Research Collaboration to Focus on Innovative Therapy for Rheumatoid
Arthritis
Anika
Therapeutics, Inc., (NASDAQ: ANIK), a leader in products for tissue
protection, healing, and repair based on hyaluronic acid (HA)
technology, today announced an agreement with the Institute for Applied
Life Sciences at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst to
collaborate on research to develop a therapy for rheumatoid arthritis
(RA).
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder which manifests
itself in multiple joints of the body. The inflammatory process
primarily affects the lining of the joints (synovial membrane), but can
also affect other organs. The inflamed synovium leads to erosion of
cartilage and bone, which can lead to joint deformity. RA imposes
enormous physical and economic burdens on affected individuals, as well
as society at-large. As the population in the U.S. continues to age, the
Centers for Disease Control estimates that 67 million individuals will
be diagnosed with RA by the year 2030.
The purpose of this research collaboration is to develop a novel
modality for the treatment of RA, and if successful, is expected to
yield a candidate that will move toward clinical development in 2017.
“We are very excited to partner with a world-renowned research
institution and the many outstanding scientists at UMass Amherst to
develop a localized delivery treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that
addresses a large unmet need,” said Dr. Charles H. Sherwood, President
and Chief Executive Officer, Anika Therapeutics. “With this partnership,
we plan to further advance Anika’s mission to deliver innovative
therapies that address the full continuum of patient care, with a focus
in the area of orthopedics.”
"We are extremely enthusiastic to have our research teams partnering
with Anika as we aim to address treatments for RA," said Dr. Peter H.
Reinhart, Director of the Institute for Applied Life Sciences at UMass
Amherst. “This is exactly the type of win-win collaboration IALS is
seeking to develop in its quest to rapidly commercialize UMass life
science discoveries into products that improve human health.”
"This partnership combines Professor Sankaran Thayumanavan’s (Chemistry)
expertise in nanotechnology with Professor Lisa Minter’s (Veterinary &
Animal Sciences) mechanistic understanding of aberrant immune responses
and with Anika’s proven knowledge of hyaluronic acid chemistry and its
clinical application to treat joint pain,” said Professor Mike Malone,
Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement at UMass Amherst.
“Developing University/Industry alliances is one of the key strategic
elements of this translational institute that advances the broad life
science research mission on this campus. In this alliance with Anika we
are committed to bringing novel therapeutic solutions to patients."
About the Institute for Applied Life Sciences at the University of
Massachusetts Amherst
The Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS; http://www.umass.edu/ials)
is a translational institute at the UMass flagship campus at Amherst,
founded with major support from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
IALS translates life science research into products and services that
improve human health in collaboration with industry partners. IALS also
trains an entrepreneurial workforce skilled in the discovery,
development, and manufacture of medical devices, biomolecules, and
delivery vehicles for the life sciences. The Institute, involving more
than 120 UMass faculty members, is organized into three Centers. The Center
for Bioactive Delivery (CBD), seeks to develop novel delivery
technologies for small and large molecules. The Models to Medicines
Center (M2M), identifies novel drug targets and therapeutic candidates
by leveraging mechanistic insights from molecular pathways implicated in
cellular health and disease. The Center for Personalized Health
Monitoring (CPHM), accelerates the commercialization of low-cost,
multi-function, intelligent sensor systems for personalized health care
and biometric monitoring.
About Anika Therapeutics, Inc.
Headquartered in Bedford, Mass., Anika
Therapeutics, Inc. develops, manufactures, and commercializes
therapeutic products for tissue protection, healing, and repair. These
products are based on hyaluronic
acid (HA), a naturally occurring, biocompatible polymer found
throughout the body. Anika's products range from orthopedic/joint health
solutions led by Orthovisc
and Monovisc,
treatments for osteoarthritis, to surgical aids in the anti-adhesion
and ophthalmic
fields. The Company also offers aesthetic
dermal fillers for the correction of facial wrinkles. Anika's
Italian subsidiary, Anika Therapeutics S.r.l., provides complementary HA
products in the orthopedic/joint health and anti-adhesion fields, as
well as therapeutics in areas such as advanced wound treatment and ear,
nose, and throat care. Its regenerative technology advances Anika's
vision to offer therapeutic products and medical solutions that go
beyond pain relief to protect and restore damaged tissue.
The statements made in the third, fourth and sixth paragraphs of this
press release, which are not statements of historical fact, are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not
limited to, those relating to the potential product that could be
yielded by the Company’s collaboration with the Institute for Applied
Life Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the
timeline for the delivery and clinical trial work associated with such
product. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and
expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant
risks, uncertainties, and other factors. The Company’s actual
results could differ materially from any anticipated future results,
performance, or achievements described in the forward-looking statements
as a result of a number of factors including (i) the Company’s ability
to successfully commence and/or complete clinical trials of its products
on a timely basis or at all, obtain pre-clinical or clinical data to
support domestic and international pre-market approval applications or
510(k) applications, or timely file and receive FDA or other regulatory
approvals or clearances of its products, or that such approvals will not
be obtained in a timely manner or without the need for additional
clinical trials, other testing or regulatory submissions, as applicable;
(ii) the Company’s research and product development efforts, including
those with the Institute for Applied Life Sciences at the University of
Massachusetts Amherst, and their relative success, including whether we
have any meaningful sales of any new products resulting from such
efforts; (iii) the cost effectiveness and efficiency of the Company’s
clinical studies, manufacturing operations and production planning; (iv)
the strength of the economies in which the Company operate or will be
operating, as well as the political stability of any of those geographic
areas; (v) future determinations by the Company to allocate resources to
products and in directions not presently contemplated; (vi) the
Company’s ability to successfully commercialize its products, in the
U.S. and abroad; (vii) the Company’s ability to provide an adequate and
timely supply of its products to its customers; (viii) the Company’s
ability to continue to successfully manage Anika Therapeutics S.r.l.’s
business; and (ix) the Company’s ability to achieve its growth targets.
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