Anika Therapeutics Names New Independent Board Member

Bedford, Mass.-based Anika Therapeutics Inc. has named Glenn R. Larsen, Ph.D., as its new independent member of its board of directors. Larsen has extensive experience in the discovery, research and development of biologics, small molecule therapeutics and drug delivery medical devices for diverse clinical indications. Anika’s board of directors has voted to nominate Larsen for election by the stockholders at the 2015 annual meeting.

“Glenn Larsen’s more than 30 years of scientific and executive management experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, orthopedics and regenerative medicine will be a valuable asset to Anika and its board,” said Charles H. Sherwood, Ph.D., president and CEO. “We are excited to welcome Glenn to the board and look forward to benefiting from his strong technical expertise as well as his business insight going forward.”

Larsen, age 60, is CEO of Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, which he co-founded in February 2014. He also is a co-founder and chairman of the board of directors of 180 Therapeutics L.P., a clinical stage drug delivery and development company founded in 2013. He previously served as chief scientific officer and executive vice president of research and development at SpringLeaf Therapeutics Inc., a producer of drug delivery devices, and at Hydra Biosciences Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, as chief operating officer, executive vice president of development, and a member of its board of directors. During his prior employment at Wyeth/Genetics Institute, Larsen served in various research and development leadership positions, including directing Wyeth’s second largest therapeutic area as vice president musculoskeletal sciences. Larsen received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Stony Brook University.

Anika Therapeutics makes therapeutic products for tissue protection, healing and repair. These products are based on hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring biocompatible polymer found throughout the body.