UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (Mark One) ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission File Number 001-14027 Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) 04-3145961 (IRS Employer Identification No.) 32 Wiggins Avenue, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (781) 457-9000 (Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of Each Class Trading Symbol Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ANIK NASDAQ Global Select Market Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒ Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☒ Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company ☐ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒ If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐ Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒ The aggregate market value of voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2024, the last day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $373,146,995 computed by reference to the closing price of common stock on such date. The registrant does not have any non-voting stock outstanding. At March 6, 2025, there were 14,175,994 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding. Documents Incorporated By Reference Portions of the registrant’s proxy statement for its 2025 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 4 Part I Item 1. Business 7 Item 1A. Risk Factors 18 Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 35 Item 1C. Cybersecurity 35 Item 2. Properties 36 Item 3. Legal Proceedings 36 Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 36 Part II Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 37 Item 6. [Reserved] 38 Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 38 Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 52 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 53 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures 82 Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 82 Item 9B. Other Information 84 Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections 84 Part III Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 85 Item 11. Executive Compensation 85 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 85 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 85 Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services 85 Part IV Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 86 Item 16. Form 10-K Summary 88 Signatures 89 References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,” and other similar references refer to Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise indicates. ANIKA, ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, ANIKAVISC, CINGAL, HYAFF, HYALOFAST, HYVISC, INTEGRITY, MONOVISC, ORTHOVISC, and TACTOSET are our trademarks that appear in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. For convenience, these trademarks may appear in this Annual Report on Form 10-K without ® and ™ symbols, but that practice does not mean that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to the trademarks. This Annual Report on Form 10-K also contains trademarks and trade names that are the property of other companies and licensed to us. FORM 10-K ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. For Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024 CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 concerning our business, consolidated financial condition, and results of operations. The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) encourages companies to disclose forward-looking statements so that investors can better understand a company’s future prospects and make informed investment decisions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by such words as "will," "likely," "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "seek," "designed," "develop," "would," "future," "can," "could," and other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and that do not relate to historical matters. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Annual Report regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans, and objectives are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding expected future operating results, expectations regarding the timing and receipt of regulatory results, anticipated levels of capital expenditures, and expectations of the effect on our financial condition of claims, litigation, and governmental and regulatory proceedings. Please refer to "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for important factors that we believe could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. 4 RISK FACTOR SUMMARY The risk factors detailed in Item 1A entitled “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are the risks that we believe are material to our investors and a reader should carefully consider them. Those risks are not all of the risks we face and other factors not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also affect our business if they occur. The following is a summary of the risk factors detailed in Item 1A: ●Our financial performance depends on sales growth and increasing demand for our portfolios, and we may not be able to successfully manage the recent, and future, expansion of our operations. ●Substantial competition could materially affect our financial performance. ●Our business may be adversely affected if consolidation in the healthcare industry leads to demand for price concessions or if we are excluded from being a supplier by a group purchasing organization or similar entity. ●A significant portion of our Osteoarthritis (“OA”) Pain Management revenues are derived from a small number of customers, the loss of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. ●We experience quarterly sales volume variation, which makes our future results difficult to predict and makes period-to-period comparisons potentially not meaningful. ●We rely on a small number of suppliers for certain key raw materials and a small number of suppliers for a number of other materials required for the manufacturing and delivery of our products, and disruption could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. ●Our manufacturing processes involve inherent risks, and disruption could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. ●Failure to comply with current or future national, international, federal or state laws and regulations, regulatory guidance and industry standards relating to data protection, privacy and information security, including restrictive European regulations, could lead to government enforcement actions (which could include civil or criminal penalties), private litigation, and/or adverse publicity and could negatively affect our operating results and business. ●We are increasingly dependent on sophisticated information technology and if we fail to effectively maintain or protect our information systems or data, including from data breaches, our business could be adversely affected. ●We may require additional capital in the future. We cannot give any assurance that such capital will be available at all or on terms acceptable to us, and if it is available, additional capital raised by us could dilute your ownership interest or the value of your shares. ●Our license agreements with Johnson & Johnson MedTech (“J&J MedTech”) (previously known as DePuy Synthes Mitek Sports Medicine) provide substantial control of Monovisc and Orthovisc in the United States to J&J MedTech, and J&J MedTech’s actions could have a material impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. ●We may not succeed in our integration and buildout of our direct sales channel in the United States, and our failure to do so could negatively impact our business and financial results. ●We are dependent upon marketing and distribution partners and the failure to maintain strategic alliances on acceptable terms will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. ●Sales of our products are largely dependent upon third-party health insurance coverage and reimbursement and our performance may be harmed by health care cost containment initiatives or decisions of individual third-party payers. ●We are facing a longer than expected pathway to commercialization of our Cingal product in the United States, and we may face other unforeseen difficulties in achieving regulatory approval for Cingal or other new products, which could affect our business and financial results. ●Failure to obtain, or any delay in obtaining, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other U.S. and foreign governmental clearances or approvals for our products may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 5 ●Once obtained, we cannot guarantee that the FDA or international product clearances or approvals will not be withdrawn or that relevant agencies will not require other corrective action, and any withdrawal or corrective action could materially affect our business and financial results. ●Our operations and products are subject to extensive regulation, compliance with which is costly and time consuming, and our failure to comply may result in substantial penalties, including recalls of our products. ●Any changes in the FDA or international regulations related to product approval or approval renewal, including those currently under consideration by the FDA or those that apply retroactively, could adversely affect our competitive position and materially affect our business and financial results. ●Notices of inspectional observations or deficiencies from the FDA or other regulatory bodies require us to undertake corrective and preventive actions or other actions to address the FDA’s or other regulatory bodies’ concerns. These actions could be expensive and time-consuming to complete and could impose an additional burden on us. ●We may rely on third parties to support certain aspects of our clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may not be able to obtain regulatory clearance or approval or commercialize our products, and our business could be substantially harmed. ●We may have difficulty managing our growth. ●The activities involved with our recent divestitures could disrupt our ongoing business, distract our management and increase our expenses. ●We may explore inorganic growth as a part of our future growth strategy, which would expose us to a variety of risks that could adversely affect our business operations. ●As our international sales and operations grow, we could become increasingly subject to additional economic, political, and other risks that could harm our business. ●We may be unable to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, which could have a material impact on our business and future financial results. ●Our stock price may be highly volatile, and we cannot assure you that market making in our common stock will continue. ●Our charter documents contain anti-takeover provisions that may prevent or delay an acquisition of our company. ●We have been, and may continue to be, subject to the actions of activist stockholders, which could cause us to incur substantial costs, divert management’s and the board’s attention and resources, and have an adverse effect on our business and stock price. This section contains forward-looking statements. You should refer to the explanation of the qualifications and limitations on forward-looking statements beginning on page 4. 6 PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS Purpose and Mission Founded in 1992, Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (“Anika” or “Company”) is a global leader in the OA Pain Management and regenerative solutions space, focusing on early intervention orthopedics. The Company leverages proprietary hyaluronic acid (“HA”) technology to develop highly differentiated products. Driven by strong partnerships with physicians, Anika is dedicated to pioneering HA-based innovations that redefine orthopedic care. Our mission is to restore active living, empower surgeon choice, and enhance patient outcomes worldwide. Anika’s Mission: “Powered by our passionate team, we partner with clinicians to create and provide meaningful advancements in early intervention orthopedic care. We are unwavering in our commitment to quality and compliance as we develop and commercialize solutions that restore active living for people around the world.” Anika’s Core Values: ● People: We engage with and invest in each other in a community that values diversity and inclusion. ● Quality: We strive for the highest quality and compliance in everything we do. ● Integrity: We live up to our promises and do the right thing, every day. ● Innovation: We are agile and entrepreneurial in developing and delivering meaningful solutions. ● Teamwork: We operate with mutual respect and trust and are collaborative as we grow together. ● Accountability: We are empowered and accountable to deliver results and value to all our stakeholders. Strategy In October 2024, we announced a strategic shift to concentrate on our OA Pain Management and Regenerative Solutions portfolios. This strategic decision involved the sale of Arthrosurface Incorporated on October 31, 2024 and the sale of Parcus Medical, LLC on March 7, 2025, both of which were acquired in early 2020 under a previous management strategy. As we look ahead, our focused strategy, driven by HA-based products, positions us to offer truly innovative treatments in areas of unmet need and substantial, growing markets. We will place particular emphasis on the commercial execution and adoption of the newest product in our Regenerative Solutions portfolio, the Integrity Implant System (“Integrity”), a HA-based scaffold designed for rotator cuff and other tendon repairs. The Integrity system has shown strong performance, with over 40% sequential growth in surgeries and significant adoption by new customers. We will continue to invest in our Regenerative Solutions R&D pipeline as we prepare for the U.S. approval and launch of both Hyalofast and Cingal, each representing an incremental U.S. addressable market of at least $1 billion. Hyalofast is on track for a U.S. launch by 2026, and we have submitted the first two modules of our premarket approval (“PMA”) application with the FDA. Additionally, we will build on the international commercial momentum of our entire OA Pain Management portfolio, led by Monovisc and Cingal. Cingal has shown significant clinical success and is progressing towards a New Drug Application (“NDA”) filing in the U.S. On October 31, 2024 (the “Arthrosurface Closing Date”), we completed the sale of all outstanding equity interests (the “Arthrosurface Transaction”) of Arthrosurface Incorporated, a Delaware corporation and former wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Arthrosurface”), which held our Arthrosurface asset group, to Phoenix Brio, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (“Phoenix Brio”), pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Arthrosurface Closing Date (the “Arthrosurface Purchase Agreement”), by and amongst us, Arthrosurface, and Phoenix Brio. As consideration for the Arthrosurface Transaction, at the closing, Phoenix Brio delivered to us a ten-year non-interest bearing promissory note in the principal amount of $7.0 million. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, we are also eligible to receive: (i) for each calendar quarter, an amount equal to a percentage of the net sales (the “Revenue Payments”) for the sale of certain commercial and pipeline products during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the earlier of the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date or the date on which the Buy-Out Payment (as defined below) is paid to us; and (ii) a percentage of the gross proceeds with respect to the sale of certain commercial and pipeline products in a bona fide arm’s length transaction with a third party that is not an affiliate of Phoenix Brio or us occurring within the first twenty-four (24) months following the Closing Date. Phoenix Brio can also elect to make a payment in an amount equal to the greater of (A) $14.0 million or (B) ten (10) times the Revenue Payments ((A) and (B) together, the “Buy-Out Payment”) paid to us during the last full calendar year prior to the consummation of a change of control transaction or Phoenix Brio’s written notice to us that it is electing to make the Buy-Out Payment. Pursuant to the Arthrosurface Purchase Agreement, the aggregate consideration is subject to customary post-closing adjustments. 7 On March 7, 2025 (the “Parcus Closing Date”), we completed the sale of all of the outstanding equity interests of Parcus Medical, LLC, a Wisconsin limited liability company and former wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Parcus”), to Medacta Americas Manufacturing, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Medacta”), pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date (the “Parcus Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, Parcus and Buyer (the “Transaction”). As consideration for the Transaction, at closing, Medacta made a payment of $4.5 million in cash. Pursuant to the Parcus Purchase Agreement, the aggregate consideration is subject to customary post-closing adjustments. Products and Services Anika provides a broad array of products and services, including: ● Osteoarthritis (“OA”) Pain Management: Orthovisc, Monovisc, and Cingal. Monovisc and Orthovisc are our single- and multi-injection, HA viscosupplement products indicated for pain relief from OA conditions. Labeling in the United States limits their use to the knee exclusively, while labeling outside the U.S. is broader, providing expanded therapeutic options beyond the knee to include anatomies such as the shoulder, hip, and ankle. Our OA Pain Management products are generally administered to patients in an office setting. In the United States, Monovisc and Orthovisc are marketed exclusively by J&J MedTech. In December 2011, we entered into a fifteen-year licensing agreement with J&J MedTech to exclusively market Monovisc in the United States through December 2026. In December 2003, we entered into a ten-year licensing agreement to exclusively market Orthovisc in the United States. J&J MedTech extended this agreement for additional five-year terms in 2007, 2012, 2017, and most recently in August 2022. The current agreement expires in December 2028 unless extended at the option of J&J MedTech. Monovisc and Orthovisc have been market leaders, based on combined overall revenue in the viscosupplement market, since 2018. Despite recent competitive pricing pressures and reduced market access, Monovisc and Orthovisc remain market leaders in the U.S. OA Pain Management market. Internationally, we market our OA Pain Management products directly through a worldwide network of commercial distributors, and our international sales team has successfully expanded into new countries, driving double-digit growth in recent years. Cingal is our novel, next-generation, non-opioid, single-injection OA Pain Management product, consisting of our proprietary cross-linked HA material combined with a fast-acting steroid, designed to provide both short- and long-term pain relief. Cingal is CE marked and has been sold outside the United States for several years, directly in over 35 countries through our network of distributors. Cingal is not currently approved for commercial use in the United States. We have been actively engaging with the FDA on next steps for U.S. regulatory approval. We have made significant progress in addressing the FDA's requirements for Cingal's approval. In April 2023, we held a Type-C meeting with the FDA, which led to an advice letter received from the FDA in April 2024. The letter included positive feedback and new challenges that we are actively addressing. We also received confirmation that the clinical data for Cingal is a review issue and not a filing issue. Additionally, in September 2024, we acquired the Aristospan NDA, which allowed us to address a recent FDA requirement and will enable us to source the reference drug for a bioequivalence study. We had another Type-C meeting with the FDA in February 2025 to discuss finalizing NDA submission requirements. We are committed to bringing this revolutionary pain management therapy to the approximate $1 billion U.S. addressable market. For additional information, please see the section captioned “Item 1. Business—Research and Development.” ● Regenerative Solutions: Integrity, Hyalofast, and Tactoset. Integrity is an HA-based scaffold with bone and tendon fixation components and arthroscopic delivery instruments. It is designed to protect injured tendons and promote healing in rotator cuff repair and other tendon procedures. Integrity received FDA clearance for commercial use in the United States in August 2023 and we initiated a limited market release in November 2023. Since its launch, Integrity has shown strong performance, with over 40% sequential growth in surgeries and significant adoption by new customers. The system competes in a U.S. tendon augmentation market estimated to be more than $220 million annually. Hyalofast is a 100% HA resorbable scaffold used for single stage cartilage regeneration. While Tactoset and Integrity are commercialized principally in the United States, Hyalofast is currently available outside the United States in over 30 countries within Europe, South America, Asia, and certain other international markets. In the United States, Hyalofast is a pipeline product under a pivotal Investigational Device Exemption (“IDE”) clinical trial and is not available for commercial sale. We have filed the first and second modules of its PMA with the FDA, and the product is on track for a U.S. launch by 2026. For additional information, please see the section captioned “Item 1. Business—Research and Development.” Tactoset Injectable Bone Substitute is an HA-enhanced injectable bone repair therapy designed to treat insufficiency fractures and augment hardware fixation, such as suture anchors. Listed below are the key product drivers to our business 8 ● Non-Orthopedic Products: Hyvisc, Hyalobarrier, Anikavisc, Nuvisc Our Non-Orthopedic product family consists of legacy HA-based products that are marketed principally for non-orthopedic applications. These products include: Hyvisc, our high molecular weight injectable HA veterinary product for the treatment of joint dysfunction in horses due to non-infectious synovitis associated with equine OA; Hyalobarrier, an anti-adhesion barrier indicated for use after abdominal-pelvic surgeries; and ophthalmic products, including injectable, high molecular weight HA products such as Anikavisc and Nuvisc, used as viscoelastic agents in ophthalmic surgical procedures such as cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. These Non-Orthopedic products are sold through commercial sales and marketing partners around the world. Sales Channels A majority of our products are used by clinicians and surgeons in one of three environments: office-based procedures, hospital operating rooms, and ambulatory surgery centers (“ASCs”). Office-based procedures usually focus on injections, while ASCs are clinics outside of a normal hospital setting, often at least partially physician-owned. These medical care delivery environments typically require different commercial approaches and have distinct call points, necessitating diversity in our sales strategy. For instance, our OA Pain Management product family and certain products in our Non-Orthopedic category are almost entirely utilized in an office-based setting, while our Regenerative Solutions and certain other products in our Non-Orthopedic category are almost exclusively used in hospital operating rooms or ASCs. As a result of these distinctions, we employ multiple sales models in the United States to ensure that we meet the needs of our customers and other healthcare system stakeholders. For many years, we have maintained a mutually beneficial commercial partnership with J&J MedTech, which sells Monovisc and Orthovisc in the United States. In this arrangement, we sell the Monovisc and Orthovisc products that we manufacture to J&J MedTech, and we also receive a royalty from J&J MedTech on their end-user sales of these products in the United States. We have U.S. commercial partnerships for other products in our Non-Orthopedic product families. Under these partnerships, we sell our products directly to our partners, who perform downstream sales and marketing activities to customers and end-users. In addition to a transfer price, we may also structure our arrangements to receive a royalty on end-user sales. In the U.S., we sell our Regenerative Solutions portfolio directly to clinicians, including hospitals and ASCs, through a hybrid approach involving our Anika sales team and a large network of independent third-party distributors. We employ selling models that seek to maximize benefits for our company and customers, including contracts with group purchasing organizations and certain fixed-price delivery models. This approach has proven effective, as evidenced by the strong performance of products like the Integrity Implant System, which has seen significant adoption and growth. Outside of the United States, we market and sell our products using a worldwide network of commercial distributors, providing a solid foundation for future revenue growth and territorial expansion. Our relationships with these partners are generally structured such that we sell our products to them directly, while they, with global support from our team, perform in-country sales and marketing activities to drive local growth and adoption of our products. We expect to generally maintain this model for the foreseeable future, while also selectively evaluating other options and being opportunistic about adopting other sales models, including direct sales, in certain jurisdictions. We believe that our overall sales approach provides our business with a strong base to drive revenue growth as we continue to grow and scale our commercial infrastructure. We will continue to focus on expanding our commercial capabilities, including market access, innovative sales and delivery models, and improved logistics management. This strategy is expected to enhance our ability to deliver value to our shareholders and meet the needs of our diverse customer base. Manufacturing We manufacture all of our HA-based products, including our OA Pain Management and Regenerative Solutions products, as well as certain additional products, at our facility in Bedford, Massachusetts. Here, we have developed significant manufacturing expertise in procedures such as homogenized mixing and filling of highly viscous liquids and creation and manipulation of solid HA into scaffolds or other fiber-based presentations. To support higher expected output of OA Pain Management and Regenerative Solutions products, we are investing in our Bedford manufacturing facility. This investment is part of our broader strategy to enhance our manufacturing capabilities and ensure we can meet the growing demand for our innovative products. The raw materials necessary to manufacture our products are generally available from multiple sources. However, we rely on a small number of suppliers for certain key raw materials and other components, parts, and disposables required for the manufacturing and delivery of these products. Any prolonged interruption of operations or significant reduction in the capacity or performance capability of any of our manufacturing facilities, or with any of our key suppliers, could have a material adverse effect on our operations. Research and Development Our research and development efforts focus on developing new medical applications that address unmet needs by leveraging our technology platforms. This includes new implant designs, developing intellectual property related to our technology platforms and new products, managing clinical trials for certain product candidates, preparing and processing applications for regulatory clearances and approvals, and conducting process development and scale-up manufacturing activities for our existing and new product development initiatives. For 2024, 2023, and 2022, research and development expenses were $25.6 million, $21.8 million, and $18.3 million, respectively. The increase in 2024 was primarily due to costs associated with ensuring compliance with growing global regulatory requirements, such as the European Union (“EU”) Medical Device Regulation (“MDR”), as well as new product development in our research and development pipeline. This pipeline is led by Integrity, which received FDA clearance in August 2023 and was launched with first surgeries in rotator cuff repair and other tendon procedures in November 2023. We anticipate continuing to commit resources to research and development activities, primarily for new product development, regulatory compliance, scale-up manufacturing activities, and preclinical and clinical activities. 9 Our new product development efforts focus on HA-based products in unmet, large, and growing orthopedic markets to drive long-term value, specifically in OA Pain Management and Regenerative Solutions. To better inform and target our research and development investments, we routinely interact with key external stakeholders, including clinicians, to incorporate customer and patient insights into our development process. This approach helps ensure we bring needed solutions to the market. As we move forward, we plan to continue investing in novel and meaningful new products for our target markets based on our core capabilities, including further expanding our regenerative HA technology platform. Our development focus for OA Pain Management will continue to be on bringing Cingal, our next-generation, non-opioid, single-injection OA pain product combined with a fast-acting steroid, to the U.S. market. In 2022, we completed a third Phase III clinical trial for Cingal, which achieved its primary endpoint. We have been actively engaging with the FDA on next steps for U.S. regulatory approval. In September 2024, we acquired the Aristospan NDA to assist with our Cingal regulatory filing with the FDA. We have made significant progress in addressing the FDA's requirements for Cingal's approval, including a Type-C meeting with the FDA and acquiring the Aristospan NDA to enable us to source the reference drug for a bioequivalence study. We had another Type-C meeting with the FDA in February 2025 to discuss finalizing NDA submission requirements. In parallel, we are exploring the potential to advance Cingal through commercial partnerships in the U.S. and select Asian markets. Development for our Regenerative Solutions product family is focused on several key areas. We are developing novel solutions and line extensions across our regenerative solutions segments, with a key focus on the shoulder, knee, and foot and ankle. These include enhancements to existing regenerative solutions such as our Tactoset Injectable Bone Substitute, which received an additional premarket notification (510(k)) clearance in 2021 for hardware augmentation, and our Integrity Implant System, a regenerative HA-based patch product targeted at rotator cuff repair that received 510(k) clearance in August 2023 and is now in full market release. Integrity has shown strong performance, with over 40% sequential growth in surgeries and significant adoption by new customers. In addition, we have made significant progress on a full regenerative pipeline, leveraging the commercial success of Integrity, as well as progress on our clinical trial to support approval in the United States for Hyalofast, our single-stage, off-the-shelf cartilage repair therapy, currently sold only outside the United States. We have fully enrolled the 200 patients targeted in the Hyalofast trial. This pivotal trial has a two-year follow-up protocol expected to be completed in early 2025 before regulatory submission is finalized. We filed the first module as part of a modular PMA in 2024, which is the first step in seeking FDA approval for Hyalofast in the United States, and the second module was filed in January 2025. The final module of the PMA will be filed in 2025 once the clinical data becomes available for submission to the FDA. Intellectual Property We pursue patent and trademark protection for our key technologies, products, and product enhancements in the United States and select international markets. When appropriate, we enforce and plan to defend our patent and trademark rights. While our patent and trademark portfolio provides competitive advantages for our current and future product lines, it is not our only form of protection. We also depend on trade secrets and ongoing technological innovations and regulatory approvals to sustain our competitive edge. Our intellectual property strategy is integral to our overall corporate strategy, particularly as we focus on our core HA technology and Regenerative Solutions products. This approach ensures that we can continue to innovate and bring new, differentiated products to market, such as Integrity and Hyalofast, while protecting our proprietary technologies and maintaining our competitive position in the industry. Competition We compete with numerous companies, including large pharmaceutical firms and specialized medical device companies, across our product lines. For our OA Pain Management products, our main competitors include Sanofi Genzyme, Zimmer Biomet, Inc., Bioventus Inc., Avanos Medical, Inc., Pacira BioSciences, Conmed Corporation, and Ferring Pharmaceuticals, among others. With respect to our Regenerative Solutions products, our key competitors are Arthrex, Inc , Smith & Nephew PLC, Stryker Corporation, and Zimmer Biomet, Inc., as well as smaller organizations like Atreon Orthopedics and Bone Support AB. Many of these larger companies have significantly greater financial resources, larger research and development teams, more extensive marketing and manufacturing capabilities, and more experience with regulatory processes than we do. We also face competition from academic institutions, government agencies, and other research organizations involved in product research, development, and commercialization. Additionally, many of our competitors compete with us for collaborations in research and development, clinical trial, and commercialization programs. 10 We primarily compete with other market participants on the efficacy and safety reputation of our products, as well as the breadth of our overall product portfolio. Other competitive factors include the timing and scope of regulatory approvals, availability of manufacturing supplies and raw materials, marketing and sales capabilities, reimbursement coverage, product pricing, and patent protection. Key factors that may affect our competitive position include: ● The quality and breadth of our product portfolio development; ● Our ability to complete successful clinical studies and obtain FDA and foreign regulatory approvals; ● Our ability to source raw materials and components at competitive prices and deliver them on schedule; ● Our ability to strengthen our commercial infrastructure, integrate sales channels, and execute sales strategies; ● The execution of commercial strategies by our key partners and our management of these relationships; ● Our ability to recruit and retain skilled employees; and ● The availability of capital resources to fund strategic activities, including acquisitions. We are aware of several companies developing and marketing competitive products. Some competitors have already obtained product approvals, submitted applications for approval, or commenced clinical studies in the U.S. or abroad. All our products face substantial competition, and there is a risk that we may not compete effectively against current or future competitors. Additionally, healthcare legislation and regulation aimed at reducing costs have led to industry consolidation, creating larger companies with greater market power. This has intensified competition in the provision of products and services. Market makers, such as group purchasing organizations and integrated delivery networks, have increased their negotiating leverage. If these market makers demand significant price concessions or exclude us as a supplier, our product revenue could be adversely impacted. Despite these challenges, our products, like Monovisc, Orthovisc, and Cingal, have maintained strong market positions due to their clinical efficacy and safety profiles. Our regenerative solutions, including Integrity and Hyalofast, are also gaining traction, supported by robust clinical data and innovative technology. We continue to focus on expanding our market presence and enhancing our competitive edge through strategic investments in research and development, regulatory compliance, and commercial infrastructure. Governmental Regulation The clinical development, manufacturing, and marketing of our products are subject to governmental regulation in the United States, the European Union, and other territories worldwide, including under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) in the United States. Medical products regulated by the FDA and other authorities are generally classified as drugs, biologics, or medical devices. The classification standards for our products may change over time due to new regulations or updated interpretations of existing regulations. Regulation of Medical Devices Medical devices intended for human use are classified into three categories (Class I, II, or III) based on the controls deemed necessary by the FDA to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Class I and II devices are subject to the 510(k) premarket notification process unless exempt. Class III devices must obtain FDA approval of their PMAs to be commercially distributed. Some of our current products require premarket notification and clearance under section 510(k) of the FDCA. To obtain 510(k) clearance, a company must submit a premarket notification demonstrating that the proposed device is “substantially equivalent” to a legally marketed device, known as a “predicate device.” A device is substantially equivalent if it has the same intended use and either the same technological characteristics or different technological characteristics that do not raise new questions of safety and effectiveness. The FDA aims to review and issue a determination on a 510(k) submission within 90 calendar days, though it often takes longer. The FDA may require additional information, including clinical data, to make a determination regarding substantial equivalence. If the FDA agrees that the device is substantially equivalent, it will grant 510(k) clearance to market the device. If the FDA determines that the device is “not substantially equivalent” to a predicate device, it is designated as a Class III device, requiring more rigorous PMA requirements or a risk-based classification determination through the “de novo” process for novel medical devices that are low to moderate risk. After receiving 510(k) clearance, any modification that could significantly affect the device’s safety or effectiveness, or constitute a major change in its intended use, requires a new 510(k) clearance or PMA approval. The determination of whether a modification could significantly affect the device’s safety or effectiveness is initially left to the manufacturer using available FDA guidance. Many minor modifications are documented by a “letter to file,” but the FDA may review these letters and require the manufacturer to cease marketing and recall the modified device until 510(k) clearance or PMA approval is obtained. 11 Some of our devices are Class III devices requiring PMA approval before marketing. In a PMA, the manufacturer must demonstrate that the device is reasonably safe and effective, supported by extensive data from preclinical studies and clinical trials. The PMA must also include a full description of the device, its components, manufacturing methods, facilities, controls, and proposed labeling. The FDA has 180 days to review a PMA, though it often takes longer. An advisory committee of external experts may review the application and provide recommendations to the FDA. The FDA generally conducts a pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facilities to ensure compliance with the FDA’s quality system regulation (“QSR”). The FDA will approve the device for commercial distribution if the data and information in the PMA constitute valid scientific evidence and provide reasonable assurance of the device’s safety and effectiveness. Certain changes to an approved device that affect its safety or effectiveness require submission of a PMA supplement or a new PMA. Regulation of a Drug New drugs require FDA approval of a NDA to be marketed. The approval process typically takes several years and varies based on the product’s type, complexity, and novelty. None of our products are currently approved under an NDA. The steps for obtaining FDA approval of an NDA include: ● Completion of preclinical laboratory tests, animal studies, and formulation studies under the FDA’s Good Laboratory Practices regulations; ● Submission of an Investigational New Drug Application (“IND”) for human clinical testing, which must become effective before trials begin and require Institutional Review Board (“IRB”) approval at each clinical site; ● Performance of adequate and well-controlled clinical trials in accordance with Good Clinical Practices to establish the product’s safety and efficacy; ● Submission of a user fee (unless waived) and an NDA, containing detailed information about the product’s Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (“CMC”), preclinical and clinical trial outcomes, and proposed labeling and packaging; ● Satisfactory review of the NDA by the FDA, including resolution of any questions raised during the review; ● Completion of an FDA advisory committee review, if applicable; ● Completion of an FDA inspection of the manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMP”) regulations; and ● FDA approval of the NDA, including agreement on post-marketing commitments, if applicable. After the NDA submission is accepted, the FDA reviews it to determine whether the proposed product is safe and effective for its intended use and has an acceptable purity profile. A drug-drug combination product must meet the FDA’s fixed combination rule, demonstrating the contribution of each component to the therapeutic effect. If the FDA finds the application, manufacturing process, or facilities unacceptable, it will either not approve the NDA or issue a complete response letter outlining the deficiencies. The applicant may resubmit the NDA, withdraw the application, or request a hearing. Despite additional information, the FDA may ultimately decide the NDA does not meet regulatory criteria for approval. The FDA aims to review standard NDAs in 10 months and priority NDAs in six months, though it does not always meet these goals, which are subject to change. Clinical Trials Clinical trials are typically required to support a PMA, NDA, and sometimes a 510(k) submission. All trials must be approved by and conducted under the oversight of an IRB for each site. Clinical investigators must obtain informed consent from all study subjects. Trials can be suspended or terminated by us, the FDA, or the IRB for various reasons, including risks outweighing benefits. Information about certain clinical studies must be submitted to the National Institutes of Health for public dissemination at www.clinicaltrials.gov. All clinical investigations of devices must comply with the FDA’s investigational device exemption (IDE) regulations, which govern labeling, prohibit promotion, and specify recordkeeping, reporting, and monitoring responsibilities. Significant risk devices require an IDE application approved by the FDA before trials begin. Non-significant risk devices only require IRB approval. For new drugs, an IND application must be submitted before clinical studies begin, containing information on animal studies, manufacturing, and clinical protocols. The IND must become effective before trials start, automatically becoming effective 30 days after receipt unless the FDA raises concerns. If concerns arise, they must be resolved before trials proceed. 12 Human clinical trials for NDA approval are typically conducted in three phases: ● Phase 1: Initial testing in healthy subjects to assess safety, sometimes conducted in patients for severe diseases. ● Phase 2: Trials in a limited patient population to identify adverse effects, evaluate efficacy, and determine dosage. ● Phase 3: Large-scale trials to provide statistically significant evidence of efficacy, evaluate dosage, potency, and safety, and establish the benefit-risk relationship for approval. For chronic diseases, safety and efficacy data must be gathered over extended periods, ranging from six months to three years or more. During all phases, the FDA requires extensive monitoring and auditing of clinical activities, data, and investigators. Annual progress reports and serious adverse event reports must be submitted to the FDA. Post-Approval Requirements Products manufactured or distributed pursuant to FDA clearances or approvals are subject to ongoing regulation by the FDA. This includes requirements for monitoring, record-keeping, advertising and promotion, reporting adverse experiences, and limitations on industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities. FDA regulations mandate that PMA and NDA approved products be manufactured in specific facilities, and all devices and drugs must comply with the QSR and cGMP regulations, respectively. On February 2, 2024, the FDA published a final rule to amend its QSR requirements to align more closely with international consensus standards for medical devices by incorporating the 2016 edition of the ISO 13485 standard. This amended regulation, known as the Quality Management System Regulation, will be effective February 2, 2026. Manufacturers and other entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of cleared or approved devices or drugs must register their establishments and list their products with the FDA and certain state agencies. These manufacturers are subject to periodic announced and unannounced inspections by the FDA and state agencies to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Discovery of violative conditions, including failure to conform to QSR and cGMP regulations, could result in enforcement actions. Products may only be promoted for the cleared or approved indications and in accordance with the label provisions. While the FDA does not regulate physicians' treatment choices, it restricts communications about off-label use of products. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce laws prohibiting off-label marketing and promotion. Companies found to have improperly marketed or promoted off-label uses may face significant liability, including criminal and civil penalties under the FDCA and False Claims Act, exclusion from federal healthcare programs, and mandatory compliance programs. The FDA may also require post-marketing testing and surveillance to monitor a marketed product's effects. Discovery of previously unknown problems or non-compliance with FDA requirements can lead to adverse publicity, product restrictions, and judicial or administrative enforcement. The FDA has broad regulatory compliance and enforcement powers, including issuing Form FDA 483 notices, warning letters, civil money penalties, suspending or delaying clearances or approvals, product recalls, production shutdowns, withdrawal of approvals, product seizures, consent decrees, injunctive relief, or criminal prosecution. The FDA can also require manufacturers to repair, replace, or refund the cost of devices. Outside the United States, regulatory agencies may exert similar powers. EU Regulation In the European Union, medical devices must be CE marked to be marketed. CE marking involves working with a notified body (or self-certifying for low- risk devices) to demonstrate that the device meets all applicable general safety and performance requirements of EU medical devices legislation, including compliance with the manufacturer’s Quality Management System. The EU’s Medical Devices Directive (“MDD”) has been replaced by the EU Medical Devices Regulation (“EU MDR”), effective May 26, 2021. Devices certified under the MDD may continue to be marketed during a transitional period. On March 15, 2023, the transition period was extended from May 26, 2024, to either May 26, 2026, December 31, 2027, or December 31, 2028, depending on device classification, provided certain conditions are met. These conditions include compliance with EU MDR requirements for post-market surveillance, vigilance, and registration, having a contract with an EU MDR notified body before September 26, 2024, and filing an agreement for conformity assessment by May 26, 2024. The EU also removed its 12-month "sell-off" provision, allowing non-transitioning medical devices that comply with the MDD to be supplied in the EU after May 2025 until stock is depleted. The EU MDR generally requires increased levels of clinical data compared to MDD requirements, and all product technical data must comply with the latest standards regardless of when the product was initially developed. Drug approval in the European Union follows one of several processes: (i) a centralized procedure involving the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use; (ii) a mutual recognition procedure, where an individual country's regulatory agency approves the product, followed by mutual recognition by other countries' regulatory agencies; (iii) a decentralized procedure, where approval is sought simultaneously through multiple countries' regulatory agencies; or (iv) a national procedure, where approval is sought through a single country's regulatory agency. 13 UK Regulation The UK formally left the EU on January 31, 2020. The EU and the UK concluded a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (“TCA”), provisionally applicable since January 1, 2021, and formally applicable since May 1, 2021. The TCA includes specific provisions concerning pharmaceuticals, such as the mutual recognition of GMP inspections and GMP documents but does not provide for wholesale mutual recognition of UK and EU pharmaceutical regulations. Currently, the UK has implemented EU legislation on the marketing, promotion, and sale of medicinal products through the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (as amended), with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) responsible for authorizing all medicinal products. While the UK regulatory regime aligns with EU regulations in many ways, it is possible that these regimes will diverge more significantly in the future now that the UK’s regulatory system is independent from the EU. Regarding medical devices, since the end of the Brexit transitional period on January 1, 2021, new regulations require medical devices to be registered with the MHRA before being placed on the Great Britain market. The MHRA will only register devices where the manufacturer or their United Kingdom Responsible Person has a registered place of business in the UK. CE marks issued by EU notified bodies to place medical devices on the EU market will remain valid in the UK until June 30, 2028 (for CE marks issued under the EU MDD) or June 30, 2030 (for CE marks issued under the EU MDR). After these dates, a UK Conformity Assessed (“UKCA”) mark will be required to place a device on the Great Britain market. Manufacturers may choose to use the UKCA mark voluntarily before these dates. However, the UKCA mark will not be recognized in the EU. The EU regulatory framework for medical devices continues to apply in Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Protocol. Medical devices in Northern Ireland may carry either an EU CE mark or a UK and Northern Ireland CE mark (“CE UKNI”), although devices bearing the CE UKNI marking will not be accepted on the EU market. Other Health Care Laws The delivery of our products is regulated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other state and non-U.S. government agencies responsible for healthcare reimbursement and regulation. U.S. laws and regulations are primarily imposed in connection with government-funded healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and the government's interest in regulating healthcare quality and cost. Other governments also impose regulations on their healthcare reimbursement programs and the delivery of healthcare items and services. We are subject to various U.S. federal and state laws pertaining to healthcare fraud and abuse, including anti-kickback, false claims, self-referrals, and other healthcare fraud. Additionally, we are subject to U.S. federal and state transparency laws, such as the U.S. Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which requires us to annually disclose certain payments and other transfers of value made to U.S.-licensed healthcare practitioners (e.g., physicians, nurse practitioners, advanced practice registered nurses) and teaching hospitals. Similar laws and regulations regarding sales, marketing, and advertising practices exist in other regions where we operate. Coverage and Reimbursement Sales of medical products depend partly on coverage by third-party payers, such as government healthcare programs, commercial insurance, and managed healthcare organizations, and the level of reimbursement provided. Coverage and reimbursement decisions are made on a plan-by-plan basis, and third-party payers are increasingly reducing reimbursements for medical products and procedures. Factors considered by payers in determining reimbursement include: ● Whether the product or procedure is a covered benefit under the health plan; ● Safety, effectiveness, and medical necessity; ● Appropriateness for the specific patient; ● Cost-effectiveness; and ● Whether the product or procedure is experimental or investigational. No uniform policy for coverage and reimbursement exists among third-party payers in the United States, leading to significant differences in coverage and reimbursement for products and procedures. The coverage determination process is often time-consuming and costly, requiring scientific and clinical support for each payer separately, with no assurance of consistent or initial coverage and adequate reimbursement. Rules and regulations regarding reimbursement change frequently, often on short notice. The U.S. government, state legislatures, and foreign governments continue to implement cost-containment programs, including price controls, coverage and reimbursement restrictions, and generic substitution requirements. Adoption of such measures could limit product sales. Decreases in third-party reimbursement or decisions not to cover a product or procedure could reduce physician usage and patient demand, adversely affecting sales. 14 Health Care Reform The Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“ACA”) substantially changed healthcare financing by both governmental and private insurers, significantly impacting the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. The ACA included provisions governing enrollment in federal healthcare programs, reimbursement adjustments, changes to fraud and abuse laws, and Medicare provisions aimed at reducing costs. It also introduced comparative effectiveness research, an independent payment advisory board, and pilot programs to evaluate alternative payment methodologies. Since its enactment, there have been ongoing judicial and Congressional efforts to modify or repeal certain aspects of the ACA. For example, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, repealed the Cadillac tax, the health insurance provider tax, and the medical device excise tax. It is impossible to determine how future healthcare reform measures or efforts to challenge, repeal, or replace the ACA will impact our business. Data Privacy and Security Laws We are also subject to various laws and regulations concerning data privacy in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere, including the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), in the European Union and the United Kingdom. These legal requirements impose stringent requirements on the processing, administration, security, and confidentiality of personal data and empower enforcement agencies to impose large penalties for noncompliance. In addition, various jurisdictions around the world continue to propose new laws that regulate the privacy and/or security of certain types of personal data. Complying with these laws, if enacted, would require significant resources and leave us vulnerable to possible fines, penalties, litigation, and reputational harm if we are unable to comply. Environmental Laws We believe that we are in compliance with all foreign, federal, state, and local environmental regulations with respect to our manufacturing facilities. The cost of ongoing compliance with such environmental regulations does not have a material effect on our operations. 15 Seasonality Our OA Pain Management and Non-Orthopedic product families are generally less seasonal in nature due to the nature of our product mix and sales channels and order strategies of our customers. With our Regenerative Solutions product portfolio, procedure volumes are normally higher in the fourth quarter due to several factors including the satisfaction by patients of insurance deductible limits and the time of year patients prefer to have elective procedures. Our Regenerative Solutions business can be impacted by periodic restrictions on the performance of elective surgical procedures throughout the United States and global markets, the unavailability of physicians and/or changes to their treatment prioritizations, reductions in the levels of healthcare facility staffing and, in certain instances, and the willingness or ability of patients to seek treatment. Environmental, Social and Governance In 2021, we began a process to develop a foundational Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) framework for our organization. This framework integrates our six key corporate values: People, Quality, Integrity, Accountability, Innovation and Teamwork. The initial step in our ESG journey included the completion of a “materiality assessment” based on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”) framework. Our materiality assessment was a research- intensive and stakeholder-inclusive process and included guidance and insight from external advisors, and crucial feedback from key internal and external stakeholders, including investors, customers, suppliers, employees, and our board of directors. As a result of the materiality assessment, we identified the themes that are most important to our stakeholders and our business within traditional environmental, social and governance pillars. Most immediately, our materiality assessment enabled us to select our six key focus areas, with a goal to be aligned with SASB standards for the medical device industry. We will continue to assess and update our ESG initiatives as our business grows and as we implement processes and improvements over time. Human Capital Management We believe that creating a diverse, talented, and inclusive workplace is central to our culture, employee recruitment, retention, engagement, innovation, operational excellence, and overall performance. This culture and drive for performance are crucial in attracting and retaining key talent. Our culture is centered around our fundamental values of: ● People: We engage and invest in each other in a community that values diversity and inclusion. ● Innovation: We are agile and entrepreneurial in developing and delivering meaningful solutions to our healthcare stakeholders within our target markets. ● Quality: We strive for the highest quality and compliance in everything we do. ● Teamwork: We operate with mutual respect and trust and are collaborative as we grow together. ● Integrity: We live up to our promises and do the right thing, every day. ● Accountability: We are empowered and accountable to deliver results and value to all of our stakeholders. Talent Acquisition and Management Our industry requires complex processes for product development and commercialization, necessitating deep expertise and experience across various disciplines. Medical device companies compete for a limited number of qualified applicants to fill specialized positions, requiring competitive compensation and benefits packages and an attractive culture to attract and retain skilled employees. As of December 31, 2024, we employed 288 full-time employees in the United States and Europe. 16 We believe that our employees’ understanding of how their work contributes to our overall strategy and performance is key to our success. To communicate these important topics engagingly, we utilize various channels, including all-employee town hall meetings led by senior management, company-wide information sessions known as Knowledge Boosters, and regular email and intranet updates from our CEO and other key executives. Additionally, we conduct company-wide employee engagement surveys using an external platform to assess perceptions in areas such as inclusion, professional development, reward/recognition, equity, engagement, and overall satisfaction. Our management team evaluates the results, compares them with prior periods and peer data, and identifies potential improvement opportunities. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion We are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all employees, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability, are valued, respected, and supported. Beginning in 2021, we committed to key elements of the MassBio CEO Pledge for a More Equitable and Inclusive Life Science Industry. We continue to work on a multi-year approach to meet our commitment, including developing and communicating a corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy Statement and creating a Diversity Dashboard. The Diversity Dashboard tracks current diversity within the organization and is shared with the board of directors for engagement and oversight. We have also conducted employee surveys and focus groups to discuss diversity and inclusion. We will continue to enhance workforce diversity through focused talent acquisition goals and development plans. Employee Development The ongoing development of our employees is a catalyst for our growth and success. Many of our employees have advanced degrees in their professions. We support further development with individualized development plans, mentoring, coaching, group training, and conference attendance. We also provide financial support, including tuition reimbursement for qualified programs, and access to a broad-based learning management platform for self-directed learning and improvement. Competitive Pay and Benefits To attract and retain qualified employees and key talent, we offer total rewards packages consisting of base salary, cash bonuses, and comprehensive benefits. We also provide equity compensation for certain employees based on various criteria, including their level within the company. All employees globally are eligible to participate in the annual incentive cash bonus plan or a sales incentive plan aligned with corporate and individual performance. Bonus opportunities and equity compensation increase as a percentage of total compensation based on responsibility level. Our employee stock purchase plan, introduced in 2021, allows eligible employees to purchase shares in Anika at a discounted rate. Health and Safety We remain focused on promoting the total wellness of our employees, including resources, programs, and services to support their physical, mental, and financial wellness. We have established safety policies and protocols and regularly update employees on any changes. We have adjusted attendance policies to encourage those who may be ill to stay home. To further protect on-site employees, we provide personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies. We also provide general information updates and support to ensure employees have the resources and information to protect their health and that of their families and co-workers. Product Liability The testing, marketing, and sale of human health care products entail an inherent risk of allegations of product liability, and we cannot assure that substantial product liability claims will not be asserted against us. Although we have not received any material product liability claims to date, we cannot assure that if material claims arise in the future, our insurance will be adequate to cover all situations. Moreover, we cannot assure that such insurance, or additional insurance, if required, will be available in the future or, if available, will be available on commercially reasonable terms. Any product liability claim, if successful, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Available Information We are required to file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Investors and others should note that we announce material information to our investors using our investor relations website (https://ir.anika.com/), SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. We use these channels as well as social media, including LinkedIn and Twitter (@AnikaThera), to communicate with the public about our company, our business, our product candidates and other matters. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the social media channels listed on our investor relations website. Information that is contained in and can be accessed through our website or our social media posts are not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, and other information, including amendments and exhibits to such reports, filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, are available free of charge in the “SEC Filings” section of our website at http://www.anika.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. The information on our website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 17 ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS Our operating results and financial condition have varied in the past and could vary significantly in the future depending on a number of factors. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below, in addition to the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, before deciding whether to purchase our common stock. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and future prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and stockholders could lose part or all of their investment. Risks Related to Our Business and Industry Our financial performance depends on sales growth and increasing demand for our product portfolios, and we may not be able to successfully manage the current, and future, expansion of our operations. Our future success depends on growth in sales of our products. There can be no assurance that such growth can be achieved or, if achieved, sustained. There can be no assurance that, even if substantial growth in product sales and the demand for our products is achieved, we will be able to: ● Gain acceptance of our expanding portfolio of existing products, as well as future products, by the medical community, hospitals, physicians, other health care providers, third-party payers, and end-users, which acceptance may depend upon the extent to which the medical community and end-users perceive our products as safer, more effective or more cost-competitive than other similar products. ● Maintain, manage, and develop the necessary manufacturing capabilities and inventory management practices; ● Develop, implement, and integrate the mix of appropriate sales channels needed to generate increased sales across our product platform and to develop marketing partners and viable commercial strategies for the distribution of our growing mix of products; ● Attract and retain required key personnel; and ● Maintain the financial, accounting, and management systems needed to manage our growing business and the associated demand for our products. There can be no assurance that our current and future products will achieve significant market acceptance on a timely basis, or at all. The failure of some or all of our products to achieve significant market acceptance, or our failure to successfully manage future growth, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Substantial competition could materially affect our financial performance. We compete with numerous companies, including large pharmaceutical firms and specialized medical device companies, across our product lines. For our OA Pain Management products, our main competitors include Sanofi Genzyme, Zimmer Biomet, Inc., Bioventus Inc., Avanos Medical, Inc., Pacira BioSciences, Conmed Corporation and Ferring Pharmaceuticals, among others. With respect to our Regenerative Solutions products, our key competitors are Arthrex, Inc., Smith & Nephew PLC, Stryker Corporation, and Zimmer Biomet, Inc., as well as smaller organizations like Atreon Orthopedics and Bone Support AB. Many of these companies have substantially greater financial resources, larger research and development staffs, more extensive marketing and manufacturing organizations, and more experience in the regulatory process than us. We also compete with academic institutions, government agencies, and other research organizations that are involved in the research and development and commercialization of products similar to our own. Many of our competitors also compete against us in securing relationships with collaborators for their research and development and commercialization programs. Because a number of companies are developing or have developed products for similar applications as our products and have received FDA clearance or approval, the successful commercialization of a particular product will depend in part upon our ability to complete clinical studies and/or obtain the FDA marketing and foreign regulatory clearance or approvals prior to our competitors, or, if regulatory clearance or approval is not obtained prior to our competitors, to identify markets for our products that may be sufficient to permit meaningful sales of our products. Additionally, legislation and regulation aimed at curbing rising healthcare costs has resulted in a consolidation trend in the healthcare industry to create larger companies, including hospitals, with greater market power. In turn, this has led to greater and more intense competition in the provision of products and services to market participants. Important market makers, like group purchasing organizations and integrated delivery networks, have increased their negotiating leverage, and if these market makers demand significant price concessions or if we are excluded as a supplier by these market makers, our product revenue could be adversely impacted. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete against current or future competitors or that competition will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 18 Our business may be adversely affected if consolidation in the healthcare industry leads to demand for price concessions or if we are excluded from being a supplier by a group purchasing organization or similar entity. Because healthcare costs have risen significantly over the past decade, numerous initiatives and reforms have been launched by legislators, regulators, and third-party payers to curb these costs. As a result, there has been a consolidation trend in the healthcare industry to create larger companies, including hospitals, with greater market power. As the healthcare industry consolidates, competition to provide products and services to industry participants has become and may continue to become more intense. This may result in greater pricing pressures and the exclusion of certain suppliers from important markets as group purchasing organizations, independent delivery networks, and large single accounts continue to use their market power to consolidate purchasing decisions. If a group purchasing organization excludes us from being one of their suppliers, our net sales could be adversely impacted. We expect that market demand, government regulation, third-party reimbursement policies, and societal pressures will continue to change the worldwide healthcare industry, which may exert further downward pressure on the prices of our products and limit our access to sell our products and services to customers. A significant portion of our OA Pain Management revenues are derived from a small number of customers, the loss of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We have historically derived most of our revenues from a small number of customers who resell our products to end-users. Many of these customers are significantly larger companies than us. In 2024, J&J MedTech accounted for 57% of our revenue. While we have started to diversify our sales channels, including through the implementation of a direct commercial model in the United States for our Regenerative Solutions products, we expect to continue to be dependent on a small number of large customers for a substantial portion of our business. The failure of key customers to purchase our products in the amounts they historically have or in amounts that we expect would seriously harm our business. In addition, if present and future customers terminate their purchasing arrangements with us, significantly reduce or delay their orders, or seek to renegotiate their agreements on terms less favorable to us, our business, financial condition, and results of operations will be adversely affected. If we accept terms less favorable than the terms of the current agreements, such renegotiations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and/or results of operations. Furthermore, in any future negotiations we may be subject to the perceived or actual leverage that these customers may have given their relative size and importance to us. Any termination, change, reduction, or delay in orders could seriously harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The loss of any one of our major customers, the delay of significant orders from such customers or our inability to timely supply product to these customers (including due to production and shipping delays attributable to supply or staffing shortages), even if only temporary, could reduce or delay our recognition of revenues, harm our reputation in the industry, and reduce our ability to accurately predict cash flow, and, as a consequence, could seriously harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We experience quarterly sales volume variation, which makes our future results difficult to predict and makes period-to-period comparisons potentially not meaningful. We experience quarterly fluctuations in our product sales as a result of multiple factors, many of which are outside of our control including our arrangements with J&J MedTech which performs most of the downstream sales and marketing activities to customers and end-users for Monovisc and Orthovisc in the United States. Therefore, we are subject to fluctuations in our customers’ sales patterns and corresponding ordering patterns, including J&J MedTech. These quarterly fluctuations create uncertainty as to the volume of sales that we may achieve in a given period. As a result, comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis might not be meaningful. You should not rely on our past results as an indication of our future performance. Our operating results could be disproportionately affected by a reduction in revenue because a proportionately smaller amount of our expenses varies with our revenue. As a result, our quarterly operating results are difficult to predict, even in the near term. We rely on a small number of suppliers for certain key raw materials and components for the manufacturing and delivery of our products, and disruption could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Although we believe that alternative sources for many of these and other components and raw materials that we use in our manufacturing processes are available, we cannot be certain that the supply of key raw materials will continue to be available at current levels or will be sufficient to meet our future needs. We continue to see impacts on our supply chain as the companies that produce our products, product components or otherwise support our manufacturing processes, the distribution centers where we manage our inventory, or the operations of our logistics and other service providers, including third parties that sterilize and store our products, were disrupted, temporarily closed or experienced worker shortages for a sustained period of time during and following the global pandemic or due to other supply chain disruptions. We also have to enter into longer term purchase commitments with these key suppliers that could lead impacts on cost and volatility of supply. Any supply interruption could harm our ability to manufacture our products until a new source of supply is identified and qualified. We may not be able to find sufficient alternative suppliers in a reasonable time period, or on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, and our ability to produce and supply our products could be impaired. 19 Our manufacturing processes involve inherent risks, and disruption could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The operation of biomedical manufacturing plants involves many risks, including the risks of breakdown, failure, substandard performance of equipment, the inability of production runs to pass internal quality standards, the need to comply with the requirements of directives of government agencies, including the FDA, and the occurrence of natural and other disasters. Such occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations during the period of such operational difficulties and beyond. In addition, governmental agencies of the United States or other countries may impose new requirements regarding registration, labeling or prohibited materials that may require us to modify or re-register our devices once they are already on the market or otherwise impact our ability to market the devices in the United States or other countries. For example, on February 2, 2024, the FDA published a final rule to amend its QSR requirements to align more closely with the international consensus standards for medical devices by converging with quality management system requirements used by other regulatory authorities from other countries. Specifically, the final rule does so primarily by incorporating by reference the 2016 edition of the ISO 13485 standard is effective February 2, 2026. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing authorization that we may have obtained, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition and our ability to achieve or sustain profitability. The process of complying with these governmental regulations can be costly and time consuming, and could delay or prevent the production, manufacturing or sale of our products. We could become subject to product liability claims, which, if successful, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The testing, marketing, and sale of human health care products include an inherent risk of allegations of product liability, and there can be no assurance that substantial product liability claims will not be asserted against us. Although we have not received any material product liability claims to date and we believe that we have adequate insurance coverage to cover such product liability claims should they arise, there can be no assurance that material claims will not arise in the future or that our insurance will be adequate to cover all situations. Moreover, there can be no assurance that such insurance, or additional insurance, if required, will be available in the future or, if available, will be available on commercially reasonable terms. Any product liability claim, if successful, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Failure to comply with current or future national, international, federal or state laws and regulations, regulatory guidance and industry standards relating to data protection, privacy and information security, including restrictive European regulations, could lead to government enforcement actions (which could include civil or criminal penalties), private litigation, and/or adverse publicity and could negatively affect our operating results and business. We and our third-party providers are subject to national, international, federal or state laws and regulations, regulatory guidance and industry standards relating to data protection, privacy and information security. This includes the European Union (“EU”), GDPR, and the United Kingdom (“UK”) equivalent of the same (the “UK GDPR” together with the EU GDPR, the “GDPR”), as well as other national data protection legislation in force in relevant European Economic Area (“EEA”) Member States and the UK (including the UK Data Protection Act 2018), which governs the collection, use, storage, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of personal data (including health data processed in the context of clinical trials): (i) regarding individuals in the EEA and UK; and/or (ii) carried out in the context of the activities of our establishment in any EEA Member State or the UK. The GDPR is wide-ranging in scope and imposes numerous additional requirements on companies that process personal data, including imposing special requirements in respect of the processing of special categories of personal data (such as health and data), relying on a legal basis or condition for processing personal data, where required, requiring that consent of individuals to whom the personal data relates, requiring information disclosures to individuals regarding data processing activities, requiring that safeguards are implemented to protect the security and confidentiality of personal data, creating mandatory data breach notification requirements in certain circumstances, requiring data protection impact assessments for high risk processing and requiring that certain measures (including contractual requirements) are put in place when engaging third-party processors. The GDPR also provide individuals with various rights in respect of their personal data. The definition of personal data under GDPR is defined broadly and includes pseudonymized or coded data; GDPR will, therefore, apply in the context of data collected and processed about clinical trial participants and investigators in the EU and UK. We are required to apply GDPR standards to any clinical trials that our EEA and UK established businesses carry out anywhere in the world. 20 Significantly, the GDPR imposes strict rules on the transfer of personal data out of the EEA or the UK to the United States or other regions that have not been deemed to offer “adequate” privacy protections. Currently, we rely mainly on Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission (“SCCs”) to legitimize transfers of personal data out of the EEA. On June 4, 2021, the European Commission issued new forms of SCCs for data transfers from controllers or processors in the EEA (or otherwise subject to the EU GDPR) to controllers or processors established outside the EEA (and not subject to the EU GDPR). The new SCCs replace the SCCs that were adopted previously under the Data Protection Directive. The UK is not subject to the EC’s new SCCs but has published its own standard clauses, the International Data Transfer Agreement, which enables transfers from the UK. We will be required to implement these new safeguards in the event these safeguards are used as our basis for conducting restricted data transfers under the EU GDPR and UK GDPR and doing so may require significant effort and cost. If relying on the SCCs or UK IDTA for data transfers, we may also be required to carry out transfer impact assessments to assess whether the recipient is subject to local laws which allow public authority access to personal data. There continue to be concerns about whether the SCCs and other international transfer mechanisms will face additional legal challenges. Any inability to transfer personal data from the EEA to the U.S. in compliance with data protection laws may impede our ability to conduct trials and may adversely affect our business and financial position. The GDPR increases our responsibilities and may increase our liability in relation to personal data that we process where such processing is subject to the GDPR. While we have taken steps to comply with the GDPR, and implementing legislation in applicable EEA member states and the UK, including by seeking to establish appropriate lawful bases for the various processing activities we carry out, reviewing our security procedures and those of our service providers, and entering into data processing agreements with relevant service providers we cannot be certain that our efforts to achieve and remain in compliance have been, and/or will continue to be, fully successful. Given the breadth and depth of changes in data protection obligations, complying with the GDPR and similar laws’ requirements are rigorous and time intensive and require significant resources and a review of our technologies, systems and practices, as well as those of any third-party service providers, contractors or consultants that process or transfer personal data. Although the EU GDPR and the UK GDPR currently impose substantially similar obligations, it is possible that over time the UK GDPR could become less aligned with the EU GDPR, particularly with the UK plans to reform the country’s data protection legal framework in the new Data (Use and Access) Bill introduced into the UK legislative process. In addition, EEA Member States have adopted implementing national laws to implement the GDPR which may partially deviate from the GDPR and the competent authorities in the EEA Member States may interpret GDPR obligations slightly differently from country to country, so that we do not expect to operate in a uniform legal landscape in the EEA and UK with respect to data protection regulations. The potential of the respective provisions and enforcement of the EU GDPR and UK GDPR further diverging in the future creates additional regulatory challenges and uncertainties for us. The lack of clarity on future UK laws and regulations and their interaction with EU laws and regulations could add legal risk, uncertainty, complexity and compliance cost to the handling of European personal data and our privacy and data security compliance and could require us to amend our processes and procedures to implement different compliance measures for the UK and the EEA. 21 In the United States, numerous federal and state laws and regulations, including federal health information privacy laws, state data breach notification laws, state health information privacy laws and federal and state consumer protection laws that govern the collection, use, disclosure and protection of health-related and other personal information could apply to our operations or the operations of our collaborators and third-party providers. For example, California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). This law, which became effective on January 1, 2020 gives California residents expanded rights to access and delete their personal information, opt out of certain personal information sharing and receive detailed information about how their personal information is used. It also provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for data breaches that are expected to increase data breach litigation. At this time, we do not collect personal data on residents of California but should we begin to do so, and in the context of doing so, become subject to the CCPA, the CCPA will impose new and burdensome privacy compliance obligations on our business and will raise new risks for potential fines and class actions. In addition, the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) which became effective on January 1, 2023, imposes additional obligations on companies covered by the legislation and significantly modifies the CCPA, including by expanding consumers’ rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information. The CPRA also created a new state agency that was vested with authority to implement and enforce the CCPA. The effects of the CCPA are potentially significant and, should we begin to process personal information concerning California residents may require us to modify our data collection or processing practices and policies and to incur substantial costs and expenses in an effort to comply and increase our potential exposure to regulatory enforcement and/or litigation. That the CCPA marked the beginning of a trend toward more stringent privacy legislation in the United States, which has increased our potential liability and may adversely affect our business. New consumer privacy laws similar to the CCPA have been passed and proposed in numerous other states. Such proposed legislation, if enacted, may add additional complexity, variation in requirements, restrictions and potential legal risk, require additional investment of resources in compliance programs, impact strategies and the availability of previously useful data and could result in increased compliance costs and/or changes in business practices and policies. The existence of comprehensive privacy laws in different states in the country would make our compliance obligations more complex and costly and may increase the likelihood that we may be subject to enforcement actions or otherwise incur liability for noncompliance. In addition to these comprehensive laws and proposals, several other states have passed or proposed more limited privacy laws focused on particular privacy issues. For example, Washington’s My Health My Data Act, which became effective on March 31, 2024, regulates the collection and sharing of health information and has a private right of action, further increasing relevant compliance risk. Connecticut and Nevada have also passed similar laws regulating consumer health data. In addition, a small number of states have also passed laws that regulate biometric data specifically. These various privacy and security laws may impact our business activities, including our identification of research subjects, relationships with business partners and ultimately the marketing and distribution of our products. State laws are changing rapidly and there is discussion in the U.S. Congress of a new comprehensive federal data privacy law to which we may likely become subject, if enacted. In addition, many jurisdictions around the world have adopted legislation that regulates how businesses operate online and enforces information security, including measures relating to privacy, data security and data breaches. Many of these laws require businesses to notify data breaches to the regulators and/or data subjects. These laws are not consistent, and compliance in the event of a widespread data breach is costly and burdensome. In many jurisdictions, enforcement actions and consequences for non-compliance with protection, privacy and information security laws and regulations are rising. In the EEA and the UK, data protection authorities may impose large penalties for violations of the data protection laws, including potential fines of up to €20 million (£17.5 million in the UK) or 4% of annual global revenue, whichever is greater. The authorities have shown a willingness to impose significant fines and issue orders preventing the processing of personal data on non-compliant businesses. Data subjects also have a private right of action, as do consumer associations, to lodge complaints with supervisory authorities, seek judicial remedies, and obtain compensation for damages resulting from violations of applicable data protection laws. In the United States, possible consequences for non-compliance include enforcement actions in response to rules and regulations promulgated under the authority of federal agencies and state attorneys general and legislatures and consumer protection agencies. The risk of our being found in violation of these laws is increased by the fact that the interpretation and enforcement of them is not entirely clear. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties will comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations will involve substantial costs. Any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business. The shifting compliance environment and the need to build and maintain robust and expandable systems to comply with multiple jurisdictions with different compliance and/or reporting requirements increases the possibility that a healthcare company may run afoul of one or more of the requirements. 22 Compliance with data protection laws and regulations could require us to take on more onerous obligations in our contracts, restrict our ability to collect, use and disclose data, or in some cases, impact our ability to operate in certain jurisdictions. It could also require us to change our business practices and put in place additional compliance mechanisms, which may interrupt or delay our development, regulatory and commercialization activities and increase our cost of doing business. Failure by us or our third-party providers to comply with data protection laws and regulations could result in government enforcement actions (which could include civil or criminal penalties and orders preventing us from processing personal data), private litigation and result in significant fines and penalties against us. Claims that we have violated individuals’ privacy rights, failed to comply with data protection laws or breached our contractual obligations, even if we are not found liable, could be expensive and time-consuming to defend, could result in adverse publicity and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. The use of new and evolving technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in our business may result in spending material resources and presents risks and challenges that can impact our business including by posing security and other risks to our confidential and/or proprietary information, including personal information, and as a result we may be exposed to reputational harm and liability. We may use and integrate artificial intelligence into our business processes, and this innovation presents risks and challenges that could affect its adoption, and therefore our business. If we enable or offer solutions that draw controversy due to perceived or actual negative societal impact, we may experience brand or reputational harm, competitive harm or legal liability. The use of certain artificial intelligence technology can give rise to intellectual property risks, including compromises to proprietary intellectual property and intellectual property infringement. Additionally, we expect to see increasing government and supranational regulation related to artificial intelligence use and ethics, which may also significantly increase the burden and cost of research, development and compliance in this area. For example, the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (“AI Act”) — the world’s first comprehensive AI law — which has entered into force on August 1, 2024 and most provisions of which will become effective on August 2, 2026. This legislation imposes significant obligations on providers and deployers of high-risk artificial intelligence systems and encourages providers and deployers of artificial intelligence systems to account for EU ethical principles in their development and use of these systems. If we develop or use AI systems that are governed by the AI Act, it may necessitate ensuring higher standards of data quality, transparency, and human oversight, as well as adhering to specific and potentially burdensome and costly ethical, accountability, and administrative requirements. The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence will require the application of significant resources to design, develop, test and maintain our products and services to help ensure that artificial intelligence is implemented in accordance with applicable law and regulation and in a socially responsible manner and to minimize any real or perceived unintended harmful impacts. Our vendors may in turn incorporate artificial intelligence tools into their offerings, and the providers of these artificial intelligence tools may not meet existing or rapidly evolving regulatory or industry standards, including with respect to privacy and data security. Further, bad actors around the world use increasingly sophisticated methods, including the use of artificial intelligence, to engage in illegal activities involving the theft and misuse of personal information, confidential information and intellectual property. Any of these effects could damage our reputation, result in the loss of valuable property and information, cause us to breach applicable laws and regulations, and adversely impact our business. We are increasingly dependent on sophisticated information technology and if we fail to effectively maintain or protect our information systems or data, including from data security incidents or breaches, our business could be adversely affected. We are increasingly dependent on sophisticated information technology for our products and infrastructure. As a result of technology initiatives, recently enacted regulations, changes in our system platforms and integration of new business acquisitions, we have been consolidating and integrating the number of systems we operate and have upgraded and expanded our information systems capabilities. We also have outsourced elements of our operations to third parties, and, as a result, we manage a few third-party suppliers who may or could have access to our confidential intellectual property or business information. Our information systems, and those of third-party suppliers with whom we contract, require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain, protect and enhance existing systems and develop new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information technology, evolving systems and regulatory standards and the increasing need to protect patient and customer information. In addition, given their size and complexity, these systems could be vulnerable to service interruptions or to data security incidents, breaches, other interruptions from inadvertent or intentional actions by our employees, third-party suppliers and/or business partners, or from cyber-attacks by malicious third parties attempting to gain unauthorized access to our products, systems or Confidential Information. The risk of a data security incident, breach or other disruption, particularly through cyberattacks or cyber intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments, and cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased. Cyberattacks could include wrongful conduct by hostile foreign governments, industrial espionage, wire fraud and other forms of cyber fraud, the deployment of harmful malware, ransomware, denial-of-service, social engineering fraud (including phishing attacks) or other means to threaten data security, confidentiality, integrity and availability. If such an event were to occur, it could result in the theft or destruction of intellectual property, data or other misappropriation of assets, or otherwise compromise our confidential or proprietary information and result in a material disruption of our development programs and our business operations. 23 Although we devote resources to protect our information systems, we realize that cyberattacks, cyber intrusions and other disruptions are a threat, and there can be no assurance that our efforts will prevent information security incidents or breaches that would result in business, legal, financial or reputational harm to us, or would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. We may not be able to anticipate all types of security threats, nor may we be able to implement preventive measures effective against all such security threats. The techniques used by cyber criminals change frequently, may not be recognized until launched and can originate from a wide variety of sources, including insider threats and outside groups such as external service providers, organized crime affiliates, terrorist organizations or hostile foreign governments or agencies, or generated using artificial intelligence. Likewise, we rely on third parties for various operations, including the manufacture of our products and to conduct clinical trials, and similar events relating to their computer systems could also have a material adverse effect on our business. We rely on our third-party providers to implement effective security measures and identify and correct for any such failures, deficiencies or data security incidents or breaches. Any data security incident or breach in our or our third-party providers’ information technology systems could lead to the unauthorized access, disclosure and use of non-public information, including protected health information and other personally identifiable information which is protected by HIPAA, and other laws. Any such access, disclosure, or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, damage to our reputation and the further development and commercialization of our products could be delayed. While we have not directly experienced any material system failure, accident or data security incident or breach to date, we have, from time to time experienced and may in the future continue to experience, threats and cybersecurity incidents relating to our and our third-party vendors’ information systems. If we or our third-party providers fail to maintain or protect our information technology systems and data integrity effectively or fail to anticipate, plan for or manage significant disruptions to our information technology systems, we or our third-party providers could have difficulty preventing, detecting and controlling such data security incidents, breaches or other cyberattacks and any such attacks could result in losses described above as well as disputes with physicians, participants and our partners, regulatory sanctions or penalties, increases in operating expenses, expenses or lost revenues or other adverse consequences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and cash flows. If we are unable to prevent or mitigate the impact of such data security incidents or data privacy breaches, we could be exposed to litigation and governmental investigations, which could lead to a potential disruption to our business. While we maintain insurance at levels that we believe are appropriate for our business, this coverage may not be sufficient in type or amount to cover us against all claims related to data security incidents, breaches or other interruptions. Any compromise to our information security or that of our third-party service providers or contractors could result in an interruption in our operations, the unauthorized publication of our confidential business or proprietary information, the unauthorized release, use, disclosure and/or dissemination of customer, vendor, or employee data, the violation of privacy and/or data protection laws, including under the GDPR, in the European Union or the UK, or other laws and exposure to litigation, any of which could harm our business and operating results. Our contracts may not contain limitations of liability, and even where they do, there can be no assurance that limitations of liability in our contracts are sufficient to protect us from liabilities, damages, or claims related to our privacy and data security obligations. Further, applicable privacy and data security obligations may require us to notify relevant stakeholders of a data security incident, breach, or other interruptions. Such disclosures are costly, and the disclosure or the failure to comply with such requirements could lead to adverse consequences. In addition, cyberattacks, cyber intrusions, or other interruptions may cause stakeholders (including investors and potential customers) to stop supporting our business, deter new customers from using our products, and negatively impact our ability to grow and operate our business. 24 We may face circumstances in the future that will result in impairment charges, including, but not limited to, goodwill impairment, intangible assets impairment and in-process research and development charges. If the fair value of any of our long-lived assets decrease as a result of an economic slowdown, a downturn in the markets where we sell products and services, a downturn in our stock price, financial performance or future outlook, or other reasons, we may be required to record an impairment charge on such assets. We are required to test intangible assets with indefinite life periods for potential impairment annually and on an interim basis if there are indicators of a potential impairment. We also are required to evaluate amortizable intangible assets and fixed assets for impairment if there are indicators of a possible impairment. Impairment charges could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial position, as well as on the market price of our common stock. Our business is dependent upon hiring and retaining qualified management, operations and technical personnel. We are highly dependent on the members of our management, operations and technical staff, the loss of one or more of whom could have a material adverse effect on us. We have experienced a number of management changes in recent years, and there can be no assurances that any future management changes will not adversely affect our business. We believe that our future success will depend in large part upon our ability to attract and retain technical and highly skilled executive, managerial, professional, and technical personnel. We continue to engage with our employees on a regular basis to limit voluntary employee turnover. We face significant competition for such personnel from competitive companies, research and academic institutions, government entities, and other organizations. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in hiring or retaining the personnel we require. The failure to hire and retain such personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We may require additional capital in the future. We cannot give any assurance that such capital will be available at all or on terms acceptable to us, and if it is available, additional capital raised by us could dilute your ownership interest or the value of your shares. We may need to raise capital in the future depending on numerous factors, including: ● Market acceptance of our existing and future products; ● The success and sales of our products under various distributor agreements and other appropriate commercial strategies, including the ability of our partners to achieve third party reimbursement for our products; ● The successful commercialization of products in development through appropriate commercial models and marketing channels; ● Progress in our product development efforts; ● The magnitude and scope of such product development efforts; ● Any potential acquisitions of products, technologies, or businesses; ● Progress with preclinical studies, clinical trials, and product approvals and clearances by the FDA and other agencies; ● Requirement to conduct additional preclinical studies and clinical trials for future products; ● The cost and timing of our efforts to manage our manufacturing capabilities and related costs; ● Expanding our manufacturing capacity to support growing demand for our products and add redundancies to our manufacturing process; ● The cost of filing, prosecuting, defending, and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights and the cost of defending any other legal proceeding; ● Competing technological and market developments; ● The development of strategic alliances for the marketing of certain of our products; ● The terms of such strategic alliances, including provisions (and our ability to satisfy such provisions) that provide upfront and/or milestone payments to us; ● The cost of maintaining adequate inventory levels to meet current and future product demand; and ● Further expanding our business in international markets. To the extent funds generated from our operations, together with our existing capital resources, are insufficient to meet future requirements, we will be required to obtain additional funds through equity or debt financings, through strategic alliances with corporate partners and others, or through other sources. The terms of any future equity financing may be dilutive to our investors and the terms of any debt financing may contain restrictive covenants, which limit our ability to pursue certain courses of action. Our ability to obtain financing is dependent on the status of our future business prospects as well as conditions prevailing in the relevant capital markets at the time, we seek financing. No assurance can be given that any additional financing will be made available to us or will be available on acceptable terms should such a need arise. 25 If we succeed in raising additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible securities, then the issuance could result in substantial dilution to existing stockholders. Furthermore, the holders of these new securities or debt may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the holders of common stock. In addition, any preferred equity issuance or debt financing that we may obtain in the future could have restrictive covenants relating to our capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions. Changes in tax law could adversely affect our business and financial condition. The rules dealing with U.S. federal, state, and local and non-U.S. taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Treasury Department and other taxing authorities. Changes to tax laws or tax rulings, or changes in interpretations of existing laws (which changes may have retroactive application), could adversely affect us or the holders of our common stock. These changes could subject us to additional income- based taxes and non-income taxes (such as payroll, sales, use, value-added, net worth, property, and goods and services taxes), which in turn could materially affect our financial position and results of operations. Additionally, new, changed, modified, or newly interpreted or applied tax laws could increase our customers’ and our compliance, operating and other costs, as well as the costs of our products. In recent years, many such changes have been made, and changes are likely to continue to occur in the future. As we expand the scale of our business activities, any changes in the United States and non-U.S. taxation of such activities may impact our effective tax rate, result in higher tax payments and harm our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, such as actual events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults, or non-performance by financial institutions or transactional counterparties, could adversely affect the Company’s current and projected business operations and its financial condition and results of operations. Actual events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance, or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems. If any of our customers, suppliers or other parties with whom we conduct business are unable to access funds pursuant to lending arrangements with financial institutions, such parties’ ability to pay their obligations to us or to enter into new commercial arrangements requiring additional payments to us could be adversely affected. Although we assess our banking and customer relationships as we believe necessary or appropriate, our access to funding sources and other credit arrangements in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our current and projected future business operations could be significantly impaired by factors that affect the Company, the financial institutions with which the Company has credit agreements or arrangements directly, or the financial services industry or economy in general. These factors could include, among others, events such as liquidity constraints or failures, the ability to perform obligations under various types of financial, credit or liquidity agreements or arrangements, disruptions or instability in the financial services industry or financial markets, or concerns or negative expectations about the prospects for companies in the financial services industry. These factors could involve financial institutions or financial services industry companies with which the Company has financial or business relationships but could also include factors involving financial markets or the financial services industry generally. The results of events or concerns that involve one or more of these factors could include a variety of material and adverse impacts on our current and projected business operations and our financial condition and results of operations. These could include, but may not be limited to, the following: ● Delayed access to deposits or other financial assets or the uninsured loss of deposits or other financial assets; ● Delayed or lost access to, or reductions in borrowings available under revolving existing credit facilities or other working capital sources and/or delays, inability or reductions in the company’s ability to refund, roll over or extend the maturity of, or enter into new credit facilities or other working capital resources; ● Potential or actual breach of contractual obligations that require the Company to maintain letters of credit or other credit support arrangements; ● Potential or actual breach of financial covenants in our credit agreements or credit arrangements; ● Potential or actual cross-defaults in other credit agreements, credit arrangements or operating or financing agreements; or ● Termination of cash management arrangements and/or delays in accessing or actual loss of funds subject to cash management arrangements. The impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East on the global economy, energy supplies and raw materials is uncertain, but may prove to negatively impact our business and operations. The short and long-term implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East are difficult to predict at this time. We continue to monitor any adverse impact that the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the subsequent institution of sanctions against Russia by the United States and several European and Asian countries, and the conflict in the Middle East may have on the global economy in general, on our business and operations and on the businesses and operations of our suppliers and other third parties with which we conduct business. For example, a prolonged conflict in Ukraine or the Middle East may result in increased inflation, escalating energy prices and constrained availability, and thus increasing costs, of raw materials. We also have suppliers and customers in and around those areas that we periodically do business with that could be disrupted by these events. We will continue to monitor this fluid situation and develop contingency plans as necessary to address any disruptions to our business operations as they develop. To the extent these conflicts may adversely affect our business as discussed above, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described herein. Such risks include, but are not limited to, adverse effects on macroeconomic conditions, including inflation; disruptions to our global technology infrastructure, including through cyberattack, ransom attack, or cyber-intrusion; adverse changes in international trade policies and relations; disruptions in global supply chains; and constraints, volatility, or disruption in the capital markets, any of which could negatively affect our business and financial condition. 26 The U.S. Congress, the Trump administration, or any new administration may make substantial changes to fiscal, tax and other federal policies that may adversely affect our business. In 2017, the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration made substantial changes to U.S. policies, which included comprehensive corporate and individual tax reform. In addition, the Trump administration called for significant changes to U.S. trade, healthcare, immigration and government regulatory policy. With the transition to the Biden administration in early 2021, changes to U.S. policy occurred and since the start of the Trump Administration in 2025, U.S. policy changes have been implemented at a rapid pace and additional changes are likely. Changes to U.S. policy implemented by the U.S. Congress, the Trump administration or any new administration have impacted and may in the future impact, among other things, the U.S. and global economy, international trade relations, unemployment, immigration, healthcare, taxation, the U.S. regulatory environment, inflation and other areas. Although we cannot predict the impact, if any, of these changes to our business, they could adversely affect our business. Until we know what policy changes are made, whether those policy changes are challenged and subsequently upheld by the court system and how those changes impact our business and the business of our competitors over the long term, we will not know if, overall, we will benefit from them or be negatively affected by them. Risks Related to Our Commercialization Activities Our license agreements with J&J MedTech provide substantial control of Monovisc and Orthovisc in the United States to J&J MedTech and J&J MedTech’s actions could have a material impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our license and distribution agreements with J&J MedTech related to Monovisc and Orthovisc provide J&J MedTech with, among other things, the exclusive right to market and sell Monovisc and Orthovisc in the United States, unilateral decision-making authority over the sale, price, and promotion of Monovisc and Orthovisc in the United States, substantial control over the future development of Monovisc and Orthovisc related to the treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis, a license to manufacture and have manufactured such products in the event that we are unable to supply J&J MedTech with Monovisc or Orthovisc in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreement, and certain rights of first refusal with respect to future products we develop for the treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis. In exchange, J&J MedTech pays us a transfer price calculated with reference to historical end-user prices in the market and a fixed royalty rate per product on their net product sales. As J&J MedTech accounts for a large percentage of our revenue and has unilateral decision-making authority over in-market activities, including end-user pricing and discounts, reimbursement strategy, and overall promotion strategy, actions taken by J&J MedTech impact our ability to predict and generate revenue and have a material impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We may not succeed in our buildout of our direct sales channel in the United States, and our failure to do so could negatively impact our business and financial results. Beginning in 2019, we started selling and marketing many of our products directly to customers, including hospitals and ASCs, through our direct Anika sales team and large network of independent third-party distributors. This approach was a departure from our historical distribution model in the United States, and we cannot be certain that we will be successful in implementing and executing on this commercial approach or that, even if we are able to implement it, the approach will be successful at scale. We may not be able to attract or retain the sophisticated personnel required for our approach, to identify or negotiate favorable or acceptable terms with distribution agents and ensure that they dedicate time and focus to our products, to achieve in-market pricing at the levels we have targeted, to develop and tailor our product portfolio to be specifically desired by clinicians who practice in ASCs, or to timely execute on our strategies for market penetration generally. Our failure to successfully implement and execute this commercial approach could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We are dependent upon marketing and distribution partners and the failure to maintain strategic alliances on acceptable terms will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Our success is dependent, in part, upon the efforts of our marketing, distribution, and logistics partners, including our sales agent partners in the United States, and the terms and conditions of our relationships with such partners. We cannot assure you that our commercial partners, including J&J MedTech, will not seek to renegotiate their current agreements on terms less favorable to us or terminate such agreements. A failure to maintain relationships with our commercial partners on terms satisfactory to us, or at all, could result in a material adverse effect on our operating results. 27 We continue to seek to establish long-term partnerships in regions and countries not covered by existing agreements, and we may need to obtain the assistance of additional marketing partners to bring new and existing products to market and to replace certain marketing partners. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify or engage appropriate distribution or collaboration partners or effectively transition to any such new partnerships. The failure to establish strategic partnerships for the marketing and distribution of our products on acceptable terms and within our planned timeframes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Sales of our products are largely dependent upon third-party health insurance coverage and reimbursement and our performance may be harmed by health care cost containment initiatives or decisions of individual third-party payers. In the United States and other foreign markets, health care providers, such as hospitals and physicians, that purchase health care products, such as our products, generally rely on third-party payers, including Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurance and managed care plans, to provide coverage and to reimburse for all or part of the cost of the health care product or procedures that use such products. Coverage and reimbursement by third-party payers, both in the United States and internationally, may depend on several factors, including the individual payer’s determination that our products or procedures that use our products are clinically useful and cost-effective, medically necessary, and not experimental or investigational. Since insurance coverage determinations and reimbursement decisions are made by each payer individually, seeking positive coverage and reimbursement decisions can be a time consuming and costly process, which could require us or our marketing partners to provide supporting scientific, clinical, and cost-effectiveness data for the use of our products to each payer separately. Significant uncertainty exists as to the insurance coverage and reimbursement status of newly approved health care products or procedures that use such products, and any failure or delay in obtaining reimbursement approvals can negatively impact sales of our new products. In addition, we cannot be certain that payers who currently provide reimbursement for our products or procedures that use our products will continue to provide such reimbursement in the future, and such payer decisions could negatively impact the sales of our current or future products. In addition, third-party payers are increasingly attempting to contain the costs of health care products and services by limiting both coverage and the level of reimbursement for new therapeutic products and by refusing, in some cases, to provide coverage for uses of approved products for disease indications for which the FDA, or the applicable foreign regulatory agency, has granted marketing approval. Also, the U.S. Congress, certain state legislatures, and certain foreign governments and regulatory agencies have considered reforms, including, among other items, any material changes to the ACA or the potential repeal of reference drug pricing in the United States, which may affect current reimbursement practices and create additional uncertainty about the pricing of our products, including the potential implementation of controls on health care spending through limitations on the growth of Medicare and Medicaid spending. For example, in 2010, the ACA was enacted and was intended to expand access to health insurance coverage and improve the quality of health care over time. There has been ongoing litigation and congressional efforts to modify or repeal all or certain provisions of the ACA. There may be uncertainties that result from modification or repeal of any of the provisions of the ACA, including as a result of current and future executive orders and legislative actions. We cannot predict what other health care programs and regulations will ultimately be implemented at the federal or state level or the effect that any future legislation or regulation in the United States may have on our business. There can be no assurance that third-party coverage will be available or that reimbursement will be adequate for any products or services developed by us or procedures using our products or services. Outside the United States, the success of our products is also dependent in part upon the availability of reimbursement and health care payment systems. Domestic and international reimbursement laws and regulations may change from time to time. Lack of adequate coverage and reimbursement provided by governments and other third-party payers for our products and services, including continuing coverage for Monovisc and Orthovisc in the United States, and any change of classification by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for reimbursement of Orthovisc and Monovisc, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 28 Risks Related to Our Product Development and Regulatory Compliance We are facing a longer than expected pathway to commercialize our Cingal product in the United States, and we may face other unforeseen difficulties in achieving regulatory approval for Cingal and Hyalofast, which could affect our business and financial results. In 2018, we received and analyzed the results of our second Phase III clinical trial for Cingal and found that the data did not meet the primary study endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant difference in pain reduction between Cingal and the approved steroid component of Cingal at the six-month time point. After discussions with the FDA, it was determined that an additional Phase III clinical trial would most likely be necessary to support U.S. marketing approval for Cingal. In 2019, we began the design of our third Phase III clinical trial to enable us to evaluate our full-scale Phase III clinical trial design, including patient and site selection criteria, and increase the probability of success for the Phase III trial. In 2022, we completed this third Phase III clinical trial, which achieved its primary endpoint. Together with previous clinical studies, Cingal has demonstrated superiority over each of its active ingredients and placebo over 26 weeks for long-acting pain relief. We have been engaging with the FDA on next steps for U.S. regulatory approval. We acquired the Aristospan NDA s in September 2024 to assist with our Cingal regulatory filing with the FDA. In parallel, we are exploring the potential to advance Cingal through commercial partnerships in the U.S. and select Asian markets. Other unforeseen future developments could have a substantial negative impact on the timeline for and the cost associated with a potential Cingal regulatory approval, our overall business condition, financial results, and competitive position could be affected. We also are conducting our clinical trial to support approval in the United States for Hyalofast, our single-stage, off-the-shelf, cartilage repair therapy, currently sold only outside the United States. We have fully enrolled the 200 patients targeted in the trial. This pivotal trial has a two-year follow-up protocol expected to be achieved in early 2025 before regulatory submission is completed. We have filed the first two modules as part of a modular PMA which is the first step in seeking FDA approval for Hyalofast in the United States. The final module of the PMA will be filed in 2025 once the clinical data becomes available to be submitted to the FDA. Any unforeseen developments or delays could have a substantial negative impact on the timeline for and the cost associated with a potential Hyalofast regulatory approval, and our overall business condition, financial results, and competitive position could be affected. Failure to obtain, or any delay in obtaining, FDA or other U.S. and foreign governmental clearances or approvals for our products may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Several of our current products under development, and certain future products we may develop, will require clinical trials to determine their safety and efficacy for marketing approval by regulatory bodies, including the FDA. Product development and clearance or approval within the FDA and international regulatory frameworks takes several years and involves the expenditure of substantial resources. There can be no assurance that the FDA or other regulatory authorities will accept submissions related to our new products or the expansion of the indications of our current products, and, even if submissions are accepted, there can be no guarantee that the FDA or other regulatory authorities will grant clearance or approval for our new products, on a timely basis, if at all. In addition to regulations enforced by the FDA, we are subject to other existing and future federal, state, local, and foreign regulations applicable to product clearance or approval, which may vary significantly across jurisdictions. Additional clearance or approval of existing products may be required when changes to such products may affect the safety and effectiveness, including for new indications for use, labeling changes, process or manufacturing changes, the use of a different facility to manufacture, process or package the product, and changes in performance or design specifications. For our devices that are subject to 510(k) clearances, the FDA requires device manufacturers to make a determination of whether a modification requires a clearance; however, the FDA can review a manufacturer’s decision not to submit for additional clearances. We cannot provide any assurance that the FDA will agree with our decisions not to seek clearances for particular device modifications. If the FDA disagrees, and requires new clearances or approvals for any modifications, and we fail to obtain such approvals or clearances or fail to secure approvals or clearances in a timely manner, we may be required to recall and to stop the manufacturing and marketing of the modified device until we obtain the FDA approval or clearance, and we may be subject to significant regulatory fines or penalties. Failure to obtain regulatory clearance or approvals of our products, including any changes to existing products, could have an adverse material impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Even if ultimately granted, the FDA and international regulatory clearances or approvals may be subject to significant, unanticipated delays throughout the regulatory review process. Internally, we make assumptions regarding product clearance or approval timelines, both in the United States and internationally, in our business planning, and any delay in clearance or approval could materially affect our competitive position in the relevant product market and our projections related to future business results. We cannot be certain that product clearance or approvals, both in the United States and internationally, will not include significant limitations on the product indications, and other claims sought for use, under which the products may be marketed. The relevant approval or clearance may also include other significant conditions such as post-market testing, tracking, or surveillance requirements. Any of these factors could significantly impact our competitive position in relation to such products and could have a negative impact on the sales of such products. 29 Once obtained, we cannot guarantee that the FDA or international product clearances or approvals will not be withdrawn or that relevant agencies will not require other corrective action, and any withdrawal or corrective action could materially affect our business and financial results. Once obtained, marketing approval can be withdrawn by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory agencies for a number of reasons, including the failure to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements or the occurrence of unforeseen problems following initial approval. Regulatory authorities could also limit or prevent the manufacture or distribution of our products. Any regulatory limitations on the use of our products or any withdrawal or suspension of approval or rescission of approval or reclassification by the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory agency could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Our operations and products are subject to extensive regulation, compliance with which is costly and time consuming, and our failure to comply may result in substantial penalties, including recalls of our products. The FDA and foreign regulatory bodies impose extensive regulations applicable to our operations and products, including regulations governing product and sterilization standards, packaging requirements, labeling requirements, adverse event reporting, quality system and manufacturing requirements, import restrictions, tariff regulations, duties, and tax requirements. The FDA and other foreign regulatory bodies worldwide conduct periodic inspections of our facilities to determine compliance with the FDA’s requirements and all comparable foreign regulations. We cannot assure you that we will be able to achieve and maintain compliance required for the FDA, CE marking, or other foreign regulatory clearances or approvals for any or all our operations and products or that we will be able to produce our products in a timely and profitable manner while complying with applicable requirements. Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements could result in substantial penalties, including warning letters, fines, injunctions, civil penalties, seizure of products, total or partial suspension of production, refusal to grant pre-market clearance or pre-market approval for devices or drugs, withdrawal of approvals, and criminal prosecution. Additionally, regulatory authorities have the power to require the recall of our products. It also might be necessary for us, in applicable circumstances, to initiate a voluntary recall per regulatory requirements of one or several of our products. The imposition of any of the foregoing penalties, whether voluntarily or involuntary, could have a material negative impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any changes in the FDA or international regulations related to product approval or approval renewal, including those currently under consideration by the FDA or those that apply retroactively, could adversely affect our competitive position and materially affect our business and financial results. The FDA and foreign regulations depend heavily on administrative interpretation, and we cannot assure you that future interpretations made by the FDA or other regulatory bodies, with possible retroactive effects, will not adversely affect us. Additionally, any changes, whether in interpretation or substance, in existing regulations or policies, or any future adoption of new regulations or policies by relevant regulatory bodies, could prevent or delay approval of our products. In the event our future, or current, products, including HA generally, are classified, or re-classified, as human drugs, combination products, or biologics by the FDA or an applicable international regulatory body, the applicable review process-related to such products is typically substantially longer and substantially more expensive than the review process to which they are currently subject as medical devices. In 2018, the FDA publicly indicated its intent to consider HA products for certain indications for regulation as a drug and has indicated that industry should submit new products or indication expansions to its Office of Combination Products to designate the appropriate FDA office for review. There exists uncertainty with respect to the final interpretation, implementation, and consequences of this development, and this or any other potential regulatory changes in approach or interpretation similar in substance to those mentioned in this paragraph and affecting our products could materially impact our competitive position, business, and financial results. Additionally, the implementation of the EU MDR which was put into effect in 2021, has changed several aspects of the medical device regulatory framework in the EU. Specifically, the EU MDR requires (i) changes in the clinical evidence required for medical devices, (ii) post-market clinical follow-up evidence, (iii) annual reporting of safety information for Class III and Class IIb products, and reporting every two years for Class IIa products, (iv) Unique Device Identification (“UDI”) for all products and submission of core data elements to an EU UDI database prior to placement of a device on the market, (v) reclassification of some medical devices, and (vi) multiple other labeling changes. Approvals for certain of our currently marketed products could be curtailed or withdrawn as a result of the implementation of the EU MDR, and acquiring approvals for new products could be more challenging and costly. The EU MDR requires all devices to undergo review and approval for compliance to EU MDR by the expiry of a transitional period. The original expiry date of May 26, 2024 has been extended to May 26, 2026 or December 31, 2027 or December 31, 2028 for certain devices, depending on the risk classification of the device, in response to concerns raised about notified body capacity and the ability for devices to be re-certified within the original time period. We have reviewed our products that are sold in the EU market and have completed the product rationalization exercise to identify the products that we will continue to market in the EU. Products we intend to continue marketing require substantial submissions to be made to the notified bodies for a conformity assessment under the EU MDR. We secured certification extensions for several products in accordance with EU MDR transitional guidance. We have achieved MDR certification for Monovisc and Hyalofast, and have other products’ submissions either under review, or planned to meet updated certification deadlines. Compliance with this and any other requirements is time consuming and costly, and our failure to comply may subject us to significant liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 30 Notices of inspectional observations or deficiencies from the FDA or other regulatory bodies require us to undertake corrective and preventive actions or other actions to address the FDA’s or other regulatory bodies' concerns. These actions could be expensive and time-consuming to complete and could impose an additional burden on us. We are subject to periodic inspections by the FDA and other regulatory bodies related to regulatory requirements that apply to products designed and manufactured, and clinical trials sponsored, by us. If we receive a notice of inspectional observations or deficiencies from the FDA or other regulatory bodies following an inspection, we may be required to undertake corrective and protective actions or other actions in order to address the FDA or other regulatory bodies concerns which could be expensive and time-consuming to complete and could impose additional burdens and expenses. We have previously received notices of observations or deficiencies from the FDA. Failure to adequately address the FDA’s or other regulatory bodies’ concerns could expose us to enforcement or administrative actions. We may rely on third parties to support certain aspects of our clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may not be able to obtain regulatory clearance or approval or commercialize our products, and our business could be substantially harmed. We have hired experienced clinical development and regulatory staff, and we have also retained the services of knowledgeable external service providers, including consultants and clinical research organizations, to develop and supervise our clinical trials and regulatory processes. Despite our internal investment in staffing, we will remain dependent upon these third-party contract research organizations and consultants to carry out portions of our clinical and preclinical research studies and regulatory filing assistance for the foreseeable future. As a result, we have had and will have less control over the conduct of the clinical trials, the timing and completion of the trials, the required reporting of adverse events, and the management of data developed through the trials than would be the case if we were relying entirely on our own staff. Outside parties may have staffing difficulties, may undergo changes in priorities or may become financially distressed, adversely affecting their willingness or ability to conduct our trials. Failure by these third parties to comply with regulatory requirements or to meet timing expectations may require us to repeat clinical trials or preclinical studies, which would delay the regulatory clearance or approval process, or require substantial unexpected expenditures. If we are found to have improperly promoted our products for off-label uses, we may become subject to significant fines and other liability. The FDA and other regulatory agencies strictly regulate the promotional claims that may be made about medical devices and drugs. For example, devices cleared under section 510(k) of the FDCA cannot be marketed for any intended use that is outside of the FDA’s substantial equivalence determination for such devices. Physicians nevertheless may use our products on their patients in a manner that is inconsistent with the intended use cleared by the FDA. If we are found to have promoted such “off-label” uses, we may become subject to significant government fines and other related liability. The federal government has levied large civil and criminal fines against companies for alleged improper promotion and has enjoined several companies from engaging in off-label promotion. The FDA has also requested that companies enter into consent decrees or permanent injunctions under which specified promotional conduct is changed or curtailed. We are subject to various healthcare laws and regulations, and any failure to comply with applicable laws could subject us to significant liability and harm our business. The sales, marketing and pricing of products and the relationships that medical products companies have with healthcare providers such as physicians, hospitals, ASCs, and others are under increased scrutiny. Our industry is subject to various laws and regulations pertaining to healthcare fraud and abuse, as well as other laws that impose extensive tracking and reporting related to all transfers of value provided to certain health care providers and others. These laws include the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark law, the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, the FDCA, and similar laws and regulations in the United States and around the world. These laws and regulations are broad in scope and are subject to evolving interpretation. We could be required to incur substantial costs to investigate, audit, and monitor compliance or to alter our practices, to the extent that we are subject to government scrutiny under these laws. In addition, we are subject to various laws concerning anti-corruption and anti-bribery matters (including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act), sales to countries or persons subject to economic sanctions and other matters affecting our international operations. Violations of these laws are punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including, in some instances, fines, imprisonment and, within the United States, exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and Veterans Administration health programs. These laws are administered by, among others, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Office of Foreign Access Control, the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and state attorneys general. Any failure to comply with these laws could subject us to significant liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 31 We are subject to environmental regulations and any failure to comply with applicable laws could subject us to significant liabilities and harm our business. We are subject to a variety of local, state, federal, and foreign government regulations relating to the storage, discharge, handling, emission, generation, manufacture, and disposal of toxic or other hazardous substances used in the manufacture of our products. Any failure by us to control the use, disposal, removal, or storage of hazardous chemicals or toxic substances could subject us to significant liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Risks Related to Our Growth Initiatives We may have difficulty managing our growth. As a result of our activities, we have experienced growth in the number of our employees, the scope of our product portfolio and pipeline, the size of our operating and financial systems, and the geographic area of our operations in recent years. This growth has resulted in increased responsibilities for our management. To manage our growth effectively, we must continue to manage, attract, motivate and retain employees, and improve our operating and financial systems. There can be no assurance that our current management systems will be adequate or that we will be able to manage our recent or future growth successfully. Any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. We may not generate the expected benefits of our acquisitions, and the actions associated with the divestiture of those acquisitions could disrupt our ongoing business, distract our management and increase our expenses. In early 2020, we completed the acquisitions of Parcus Medical and Arthrosurface Incorporated, in which we expanded our product portfolio and pipeline, diversified our business, expanded our commercial infrastructure, entered new markets, and increased the scope of our operations and the number of our employees. In October 2024, we sold the Arthrosurface asset group and in March 2025, we sold the Parcus Medical asset group. This decision was made as the cost to manage these product lines impacted our profitability and took focus away from our core HA related business. The integration of the two acquired companies into our operations required more effort and expense than was originally planned. This resulted in additional expenses, the disruption of our ongoing business, processes and systems, or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures, practices, policies and compensation arrangements, which adversely affected our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions. There may be increased risk with the divestitures of these businesses due to diversion of the attention of management created by the divestiture process, disruptions or other difficulties encountered in the divestiture process, and unforeseen liabilities or unanticipated problems with the businesses being sold, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. We are working diligently to complete divestiture associated activities to minimize employee, supplier, distributor, and customer disruptions. The acquisition of these two companies and the related investment in the business have contributed to our net loss in recent years. We expect to continue to actively explore inorganic growth as a part of our future growth strategy, which exposes us to a variety of risks that could adversely affect our business operations. Our business and future growth strategy includes as an important component the acquisition of businesses, technologies, services, assets or products that we believe are a strategic fit with or otherwise provide value to our business. We may fund these acquisitions by utilizing our cash, incurring debt, issuing additional shares of our common stock, or by other means. Completed transactions may expose us to a number of risks and expenses, including unanticipated liabilities, amortization expenses related to intangible assets with definite lives, or risks associated with entering new markets with which we have limited experience or where commercial alliances with experienced partners or existing sales channels are not available. Whether or not completed, transactions may result in diversion of management resources otherwise available for ongoing development of our business and significant expenditures. 32 Customer and employee uncertainty about the effects of any acquisitions or divestitures could harm us. Customers of any companies we acquire or divest may, in response to the consummation of the acquisitions, delay or defer purchasing decisions, which could adversely affect the success of our business. Similarly, our employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles, which may adversely affect our ability to attract and retain key management, sales, marketing, and technical personnel. As our international sales and operations grow, we could become increasingly subject to additional economic, political, and other risks that could harm our business. Since we manufacture our products for sale worldwide, our business is subject to risks associated with doing business internationally. During 2024, 2023, and 2022, 31%, 28%, and 26%, respectively, of our product sales were to international customers. We continue to be subject to a variety of risks, which could cause fluctuations in the results of our international and domestic operations. These risks include: ● The impact of recessions, inflation and other economic conditions in economies outside the United States; ● Instability of foreign economic, political, and labor conditions; ● Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar; ● Unfavorable labor regulations applicable to our European operations, such as severance and the unenforceability of non-competition agreements in the European Union; ● The impact of strikes, work stoppages, work slowdowns, grievances, complaints, claims of unfair labor practices, or other collective bargaining disputes; ● Difficulties in complying with restrictions imposed by regulatory or market requirements, tariffs, or other trade barriers or by U.S. export laws; ● Imposition of government controls limiting the volume of international sales; ● Longer accounts receivable payment cycles; ● Potentially adverse tax consequences, including, if required or applicable, difficulties transferring funds generated in non-U.S. jurisdictions to the United States in a tax efficient manner; ● Difficulties in protecting intellectual property, especially in international jurisdictions; ● Difficulties in managing international operations; and ● Burdens of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws, including the EU MDR and GDPR among others. Our success depends, in part, on our ability to anticipate and address these and any new risks. We cannot guarantee that these or other factors will not adversely affect our business or operating results. Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property We may be unable to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, which could have a material impact on our business and future financial results. Our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights may not be successful. We rely on a combination of copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures, and contractual provisions to protect our proprietary rights. Our success will depend, in part, on our ability to obtain and enforce patents and trademarks, to protect trade secrets, to obtain licenses to technology owned by third parties when necessary, and to conduct our business without infringing on the valid proprietary rights of others. The patent positions of pharmaceutical, medical product, and biotechnology firms, including ours, can be uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions. There can be no assurance that any patent applications will result in the issuance of patents or, if any patents are issued, that they will provide significant proprietary protection or commercial advantage or will not be circumvented by others. Filing and prosecution of patent applications, litigation to establish the validity and scope of patents, assertion of patent infringement claims against others, and the defense of patent infringement claims by others can be expensive and time consuming. There can be no assurance that, in the event that any claims with respect to any of our patents, if issued, are challenged by one or more third parties, any court or patent authority ruling on such challenge will determine that such patent claims are valid and enforceable. An adverse outcome in such litigation or patent review process could cause us to lose exclusivity covered by the disputed rights. If a third party is found to have rights covering products or processes used by us, we could be forced to cease using the technologies or marketing the products covered by such rights, we could be subject to significant liabilities to such third party, and we could be required to license technologies from such third party in order to continue production of the products. Furthermore, even if our patents are determined to be valid, enforceable, and broad in scope, there can be no assurance that competitors will not be able to design around such patents and compete with us using the resulting alternative technology. We have a policy of seeking patent protection for patentable aspects of our proprietary technology. We intend to seek patent protection with respect to products and processes developed in the course of our activities when we believe such protection is in our best interest and when the cost of seeking such protection is appropriate. However, no assurance can be given that any patent application will be filed, that any filed applications will result in issued patents, or that any issued patents will provide us with a competitive advantage or will not be successfully challenged by third parties. The protections afforded by patents will depend upon their scope and validity, and others may be able to design around our patents. 33 We also rely upon trade secrets and proprietary know-how for certain non-patented aspects of our technology. To protect such information, we have a policy requiring all employees, consultants, and licensees to enter into confidentiality agreements limiting the disclosure and use of such information. There can be no assurance that these agreements provide meaningful protection or that they will not be breached, that we would have adequate remedies for any such breach, or that our trade secrets, proprietary know-how, and our technological advances will not otherwise become known to others. In addition, there can be no assurance that, despite precautions taken by us, others have not and will not obtain access to our proprietary technology. Further, there can be no assurance that third parties will not independently develop substantially equivalent or better technology. There can be no assurance that we will not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others, which could have a significant impact on our business and financial results. Other entities have filed patent applications for, or have been issued patents concerning, various products or processes in the segments in which we do business. There can be no assurance that the products or processes developed by us will not infringe on the patent rights of others in the future. The cost of defending infringement suits is typically large, and there is no guarantee that any future defense would be successful. In addition, infringement could lead to substantial damages payouts or our inability to produce or market certain of our current or future products. As a result, any such infringement may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock Our stock price may be highly volatile, and we cannot assure you that market making in our common stock will continue. The market price of shares of our common stock may be highly volatile. Factors such as announcements of new commercial products or technological innovations by us or our competitors, disclosure of results of clinical testing or regulatory proceedings, government regulation and approvals, developments in patent or other proprietary rights, public concern as to the safety of products developed by us, and general market conditions may have a significant effect on the market price of our common stock. We have highlighted to investors increased volatility and uncertainty in the global macroeconomic environment and the changing dynamics associated with staffing shortages, supply chain disruption and inflation. These actions, as well as general investor uncertainty, could create volatility and unpredictability in our stock price. The trading price of our common stock could also be subject to wide fluctuations in response to quarter-to-quarter variations in our operating results, material announcements by us or our competitors, governmental regulatory action, conditions in the health care industry generally or in the medical products industry specifically, or other events or factors, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which have particularly affected the market prices of many medical products companies, and which often have been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. Our operating results in future quarters may be below the expectations of equity research analysts and investors. In such an event, the price of our common stock would likely decline, perhaps substantially. Our charter documents contain anti-takeover provisions that may prevent or delay an acquisition of our company. Our charter documents contain anti-takeover provisions that could prevent or delay an acquisition of our company. The provisions include, among others, a classified board of directors, advance notice to the board of stockholder proposals, limitations on the ability of stockholders to remove directors and to call stockholder meetings, and a provision that allows vacancies on the Board of Directors to be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors. We are also subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporate Law which, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with any “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Those provisions could have the effect of discouraging a third party from pursuing a non-negotiated takeover of our company at a price considered attractive by many stockholders and could have the effect of preventing or delaying a potential acquirer from acquiring control of our company. 34 If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business, or our market, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our stock, our stock price and trading volume could decline. The trading market for our common stock is influenced by the research and reports that securities or industry analysts may publish about us, our business, our market, or our competitors. No person is under any obligation to publish research or reports on us, and any person publishing research or reports on us may discontinue doing so at any time without notice. If adequate research coverage is not maintained on our company or if any of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business or provide relatively more favorable recommendations about our competitors, our stock price would likely decline. If any analysts who cover us were to cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline. We have been, and may continue to be, subject to the actions of activist stockholders, which could cause us to incur substantial costs, divert management’s and the board’s attention and resources, and have an adverse effect on our business and stock price. From time to time, we may be subject to proposals by activist stockholders urging us to take certain corporate actions or to nominate certain individuals to our board of directors. In February 2023, Caligan Partners LP (“Caligan”) indicated that it intended to consider all available options, including nominating a slate of directors for election to the board of directors at our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders. In April 2023, we entered into a Cooperation Agreement (the “2023 Cooperation Agreement”) with Caligan. Pursuant to the 2023 Cooperation Agreement, we agreed to increase the size of our board of directors to eight directors and appointed Mr. Gary Fischetti as an independent Class III director, among other things. On March 6, 2024, Caligan nominated two directors for election to our board of directors at our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders. In May 2024, we entered into another Cooperation Agreement (the “2024 Cooperation Agreement”) with Caligan pursuant to which we agreed to increase the size of our board of directors to ten directors and appointed William R. Jellison as an independent Class I director and Joseph H. Capper as an independent Class II director, among other things. If Caligan, or another activist stockholder, solicits proxies for its candidates or proceeds with other similar types of actions, our business could be adversely affected. Responding to such actions by activist stockholders can be costly and time-consuming, disrupt our operations and divert the attention of management and our board of directors. For example, we have retained the services of various professionals to advise us on activist stockholder matters, including legal, financial, and communications advisors, the costs of which negatively impact our financial results and we may be required to retain additional services in the future, which could have a further negative impact on our financial results. In addition, perceived uncertainties as to our future direction, strategy or leadership created as a consequence of activist stockholder initiatives may result in the loss of potential business opportunities, harm our ability to attract new investors, customers, and employees, and cause our stock price to experience periods of volatility or stagnation. ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS None. ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY Cyber Risk Management and Strategy We rely on information technology and data to operate our business and develop, market, and deliver our products to our customers. We have implemented and maintain various information security processes designed to identify, assess and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats to critical computer networks, third party hosted services, communications systems, hardware, manufacturing equipment and processes, lab equipment, software, and our critical data including confidential, personal, proprietary, financial and sensitive data. Accordingly, we maintain certain risk assessment processes intended to identify risks from cybersecurity threats, determine their likelihood of occurring, and assess potential material impact to our business. We use a layered approach designed to mitigate the constantly evolving risks from cybersecurity threats by investing in people, processes, and cybersecurity technologies. Our approach is informed by recognized industry standards and frameworks, and incorporates elements of the same, including elements of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (“NIST CSF”) and the Center for Internet Security (“CIS”) critical security controls. Our cybersecurity risk management program leverages trusted technology partners and solutions in an effort to identify and track key cybersecurity risks. This program includes period security assessments conducted in collaboration with our key stakeholders, penetration testing and vulnerability assessments, and a mandatory cybersecurity training program for employees. To manage cybersecurity incidents, our global security operations team maintains a cybersecurity incident response plan, conducts readiness exercises, and takes steps to improve the program, as appropriate, to manage the changing threats faced in our industry. 35 As part of our cybersecurity risk management program, we take a risk-based approach to the evaluation of third-party vendors. We apply mitigations and processes based on our evaluation of the criticality of the vendor and the sensitivity of the data the vendor accesses. Our current vendor evaluation procedures include, as appropriate, an assessment prior to onboarding and implementation of cybersecurity-specific contract provisions. We are in the process of expanding and maturing these vendor risk management procedures. We, like other companies in our industry, face a number of cybersecurity risks in connection with our business. Risks from cybersecurity threats have, to date, not materially affected, and we do not believe they are reasonably likely to materially affect, us, our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition; however, from time to time, we have experienced threats and security incidents relating to our and our third party vendors’ information systems. For additional information, please see the section captioned “Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Governance Related to Cybersecurity Risks Our Vice President of Information Technology (“VP of IT”) is responsible for the direction of our information technology organization. Our VP of IT has over twenty-five years of cybersecurity and incident management experience. Our VP of IT is supported by a third-party virtual chief information security officer (“vCISO”) who also has over twenty-five years of cybersecurity experience. Our VP of IT, supported by our vCISO, assesses our cybersecurity risks through regular meetings with our IT team, and escalates cybersecurity matters as needed to management. The role of the Board of Directors in our risk oversight process includes receiving reports from management and the chairs of Board committees on areas of material risk to our Company, including cybersecurity risks. The Board has delegated primary responsibility to the Audit Committee to review these matters. As established in the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee oversees cybersecurity risks by reviewing reports, summaries and presentations on data management and security initiatives and significant existing and emerging cybersecurity risks. This includes material cybersecurity incidents, the impact to us and our stakeholders of any significant cybersecurity incident, and any disclosure obligations arising from any such incidents. Our VP of IT presents on risks from cybersecurity threats to the Audit Committee at least annually and to the full Board, as necessary. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES We maintain leases on six facilities, including our corporate headquarters location in Bedford, Massachusetts, where we lease approximately 134,000 square feet of administrative, research and development, and manufacturing space. The lease on this facility contains multiple extension options that allow us to extend the term through October 2038. Our other lease locations are in Warsaw, Indiana and Padova, Italy. These additional facilities provide us with an aggregate of over 80,000 square feet of additional space and have terms expiring between 2025 and 2032, subject to certain renewal provisions contained within the lease agreements. See Note 8, Leases, to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our specific leaseholds. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS We are involved from time-to-time in various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Although the outcomes of these legal proceedings are inherently difficult to predict, we do not expect the resolution of these proceedings to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES Not applicable. 36 PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES Common Stock Information Our common stock has traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market since November 25, 1997, under the symbol “ANIK.” At December 31, 2024, the closing price per share of our common stock was $16.46 as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, and there were 101 holders of record. We believe that the number of beneficial owners of our common stock at that date was substantially greater, due to shares being held by intermediaries. We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain earnings, if any, for use in our business and do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Payment of future dividends, if any, on our common stock will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors after considering various factors, including our financial condition, operating results, anticipated cash needs, and plans for expansion. Performance Graph Set forth below is a graph comparing the total returns of our company, the NASDAQ Composite Index, and the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index. The graph assumes $100 is invested on December 31, 2019, in our common stock and each of the indices. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Dec-19 Dec-20 Dec-21 Dec-22 Dec-23 Dec-24 Anika Therapeutics, Inc. $ 100.00 $ 87.29 $ 69.10 $ 57.09 $ 43.70 $ 31.75 NASDAQ Composite Index $ 100.00 $ 143.64 $ 174.36 $ 116.65 $ 167.30 $ 215.22 NASDAQ Biotechnology Index $ 100.00 $ 125.69 $ 124.89 $ 111.27 $ 115.42 $ 113.84 37 Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities The following is a summary of stock repurchases for the three-month period ended December 31, 2024 (in thousands, except share and per share data): Period (a) Total number of shares purchased (1) (b) Average Price per Share (c) Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs (d) Maximum number (or approximate dollar value) of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs October 1 to 31, 2024 60,571 $ 24.37 60,571 $ 33,186 November 1 to 30, 2024 116,635 $ 17.14 116,635 $ 31,189 December 1 to 31, 2024 123,293 $ 17.03 123,293 $ 29,092 Total 300,499 300,499 (1) In May 2024, we agreed to implement a share repurchase program for an aggregate purchase price of $40.0 million to occur as follows: (i) first $15.0 million was to be effected through a Rule 10b5-1 plan initiated prior to June 1, 2024 and to be effective through June 30, 2025, and (ii) the remaining amount to be purchased in the open market (the “2024 Share Repurchase Program”). In the event of positive “free cash flow” as defined in the 2024 Cooperation Agreement dated May 28, 2024, with Caligan Partners LP, Caligan Partners Master Fund LP and David Johnson, for the period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, the amount under the share repurchase program shall be increased by 50% of such positive amount and in no event would we be required to make any purchases in the event that our cash would be less than $45.0 million after taking into account the share repurchase and reasonably anticipated capital expenditures and restructuring costs. On May 28, 2024, the Company entered into a share repurchase agreement under a Rule 10b5-1 with Bank of America. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had repurchased 505,903 shares at an average cost of $21.57 per share, representing 27% of the then estimated total number of shares expected to be repurchased under the 2024 Share Repurchase Program. Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans For information regarding securities authorized for issuance under our employee stock-based compensation plans, see Part III. Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. ITEM 6. [RESERVED] ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following section contains statements that are not statements of historical fact and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievement to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievement, expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are based on assumptions, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. We discuss many of these risks and uncertainties at the beginning of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and under the sections captioned “Business” and “Risk Factors.” The following discussion should also be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management Overview We are a global joint preservation company that creates and delivers meaningful advancements in early intervention orthopedic care. Based on our collaborations with clinicians to understand what they need most to treat their patients, we develop minimally invasive products that restore active living for people around the world. We are committed to leading in high opportunity spaces within orthopedics, including osteoarthritis (“OA”) Pain Management and Regenerative Solutions. We have thirty years of global expertise developing, manufacturing and commercializing products based on our hyaluronic (“HA”) technology platform. HA is a naturally occurring polymer found throughout the body that is vital for proper joint health and tissue function. Our proprietary technologies for modifying the HA molecule allow product properties to be tailored specifically to multiple uses, including enabling longer residence time to support OA Pain Management and creating a solid form of HA called Hyaff, which is a platform utilized in our regenerative solutions portfolio. 38 In early 2020, we expanded our overall technology platform, product portfolio, and significantly expanded our commercial infrastructure, especially in the United States, through our strategic acquisitions of Parcus Medical, LLC, a sports medicine and instrumentation solutions provider, and Arthrosurface Incorporated, a company specializing in bone preserving partial and total joint replacement solutions. These acquisitions augmented our HA-based OA Pain Management and regenerative products with a broad suite of products and capabilities focused on early intervention joint preservation primarily in upper and lower extremities such as shoulder, foot/ankle, knee and hand/wrist. In October 2024, we announced a strategic shift to concentrate on OA Pain Management and our Regenerative Solutions products. This strategic decision involved the sale of Arthrosurface Incorporated in October 2024 and the divestiture of Parcus Medical, LLC, in March 2025. As we look towards the future, our business is positioned to capture value within our target market of OA Pain Management and Regenerative Solutions product portfolios. We believe our success will be driven by our: ●Over 30 years of experience in HA and HA-based regenerative solutions and early intervention orthopedics combined with seasoned leadership with a strong financial foundation for future investment in meaningful solutions for our customers and their patients; ●Utilizing proprietary HA-based technology and manufacturing expertise to provide new and differentiated solutions in next generation OA Pain Management (eg. Cingal) and regenerative (eg. Integrity Implant System and Hyalofast) markets; ●Launching the Integrity Implant System, our arthroscopic patch system for rotator cuff repair, in 2024; ●Targeting to introduce key HA-based products into the US market upon FDA approval/clearance, such as Cingal and Hyalofast, and developing additional products that leverage our proprietary Hyaff regenerative platform; ●Robust network of stakeholders in our target markets to identify evolving unmet patient treatment needs; ●Global commercial expertise which we will leverage to drive growth across our product portfolio, including continued international expansion; ●Opportunity to pursue strategic inorganic growth opportunities, including potential partnerships and smaller acquisitions, technology licensing, and leveraging our strong financial foundation and operational capabilities; and ●Energized and experienced team focused on strong values, talent, and culture. For additional information regarding our business, please refer to “Item 1. Business” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 39 Products OA Pain Management Our OA Pain Management product family consists of Monovisc and Orthovisc, our injectable, HA-based OA Pain Management offerings that are indicated to provide pain relief from osteoarthritis conditions; and Cingal, our novel, next-generation, single-injection OA Pain Management product consisting of our proprietary cross-linked HA material combined with a fast-acting steroid. Cingal is our next generation fast-acting, long-lasting, non-opioid, clinically proven osteoarthritis pain product which is designed to provide both short- and long-term pain relief, through at least six months. It is currently sold outside the United States in over 35 countries. In 2022, we completed a third Phase III clinical trial for Cingal, which achieved its primary endpoint. Cingal is currently not approved for commercial use in the United States. We have been actively engaging with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) on next steps for U.S. regulatory approval. We acquired the Aristospan New Drug Application (“NDA”) regulatory approval in the United States in September 2024 to assist with our Cingal regulatory filing with the FDA. Regenerative Solutions Our Regenerative Solutions product family consists of: (a) our portfolio of orthopedic regenerative solutions products utilizing HA, including Integrity, our new arthroscopic patch system for rotator cuff repair and other tendon procedures, Tactoset to facilitate bone regeneration, and Hyalofast, sold outside of the United States in over 30 countries, for cartilage repair. For additional information with respect to our products, including information related to how they are sold and new product development initiatives, please see the sections captioned “Products,” “Sales Channels,” and “Research and Development” contained within “Part I. Item I. Business” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 40 Results of Operations Year ended December 31, 2024 compared to year ended December 31, 2023 Statement of Operations Detail Year Ended December 31, 2024 2023 $ Change % Change (in thousands, except percentages) Revenue $ 119,907 $ 120,792 $ (885) (1%) Cost of revenue 43,909 38,260 5,649 15% Gross profit 75,998 82,532 (6,534) (8%) Gross margin 63% 68% Operating expenses: Research & development 25,544 21,763 3,781 17% Selling, general & administrative 55,555 59,925 (4,370) (7%) Total operating expenses 81,099 81,688 (589) (1%) (Loss) income from operations (5,101) 844 (5,945) (704%) Interest and other expense, net 2,337 2,312 25 1% (Loss) income before income taxes (2,764) 3,156 (5,920) (188%) Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 6,064 6,595 (531) (8%) Loss from continuing operations (8,828) (3,439) (5,389) 157% Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (47,557) (79,228) 31,671 (40%) Net loss $ (56,385) $ (82,667) $ 26,282 (32%) Revenue During the year ended December 31, 2024, we changed our classification of revenue. We previously disclosed revenue in three categories: OA Pain Management, Joint Preservation and Restoration and Non-Orthopedic. As a result of a change in strategic focus announced by us in 2024, revenue classification was delineated to provide the investment community a clear view to our value drivers. Revenue has been split between the Commercial Channel and the Original Equipment Manufacturer (“OEM”) Channel. In the Commercial Channel, we have full responsibility for sales, marketing, and pricing of products through our commercial leaders, direct sales representatives, and independent distributors. Revenue from our Regenerative Solutions and international OA Pain Management businesses is included in the Commercial Channel. In the OEM Channel, we are responsible for development and manufacturing of products sold to our OEM partners governed by long-term agreements, but we do not control sales, marketing, or pricing with end users. Revenue from our U.S. OA Pain Management business and the Non-Orthopedic business is now included in the OEM Channel. All other revenue is reported in the Commercial Channel. The following table presents revenue by product family for fiscal years 2024 and 2023 (dollars in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 $ Change % Change OEM Channel $ 77,770 $ 84,645 $ (6,875) (8%) Commercial Channel 42,137 36,147 5,990 17% $ 119,907 $ 120,792 $ (885) (1%) Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $119.9 million, a decrease of $0.9 million, or 1%, compared to the prior year. The decrease in revenue was driven by lower sales activity with our OEM channel partners, primarily J&J MedTech and the discontinuation of certain non-orthopedic products. Revenue from our OEM Channel product family decreased 8% for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to prior year, due to lower J&J MedTech revenue, mostly related to Orthovisc and the discontinuation of certain non-orthopedic products. Revenue from our Commercial Channel product family increased 17% for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to prior year, due to an international sales growth on all our main OA Pain Management products (Monovisc, Cingal and Orthovisc). We also launched a full market release of Integrity in the U.S. in 2024. 41 Gross Profit and Margin Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $76.0 million, or gross margin of 63%, as compared with $82.5 million, or gross margin of 68%, for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily resulted from lower revenue, primarily related to OA Pain Management products in the U.S., product channel mix and higher inventory product rationalization charges. Research and Development Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $25.5 million, an increase of $3.7 million, or 17%, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to increased costs to ensure compliance with growing regulatory requirements globally, such as EU MDR, as well as regulatory, clinical and product development costs associated with our research and development pipeline, led by Hyalofast, in which we submitted the first part of our modular PMA application with the FDA in October 2024. For additional information on our research and development activities, please see the section captioned “Part I. Item 1. Business—Research and Development” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Selling, General and Administrative Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $55.6 million, a decrease of $4.4 million, or 7%, as compared to the prior year. The decrease in SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to lower headcount and reduced shareholder activism costs. Income (Loss) from Operations For the year ended December 31, 2024, the loss from operations was $5.1 million, compared to income from operations of $0.8 million for the prior year. The $5.9 million decrease in income from operations was due to lower gross profit and higher research and development costs. Income Taxes The provision for income taxes was $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, resulting in an effective tax rate of (219.4%). The provision from income taxes was $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, resulting in an effective tax rate of 209.0%. The decrease in our effective rate for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023 is primarily due to a lower valuation allowance being recorded on U.S. deferred tax assets in 2024. 42 Non-GAAP Financial Measures We present certain information with respect to adjusted gross profit and adjusted gross margin, adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”), adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share or adjusted Earnings Per Share (“EPS”), which are financial measures not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. We have presented adjusted gross profit and adjusted gross margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted EPS, because they are key measures used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our operating performance and to develop operational goals for managing our business. We believe these financial measures help identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be masked by the effect of the expenses that we exclude. We believe that the exclusion of these items in calculating these measures can provide a useful tool for period-to-period comparisons of our core operating performance. Accordingly, we believe that these measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results, enhancing the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allowing for greater transparency with respect to key financial metrics used by our management in their financial and operational decision-making. Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted Gross Margin We define adjusted gross profit as our gross profit excluding certain product rationalization charges. We define adjusted gross margin as adjusted gross profit divided by total revenue. The following is a reconciliation of adjusted gross profit to gross profit for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively: Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 Gross profit $ 75,998 $ 82,532 Product rationalization charges 606 748 Adjusted gross profit $ 76,604 $ 83,280 Adjusted gross margin 64% 69% Adjusted gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased $6.7 million to $76.6 million representing 64% of revenue. Adjusted gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $83.3 million, or 69% of revenue. The decrease in adjusted gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023, primarily resulted from slower manufacturing production, higher supply chain costs, and a higher proportion of international sales in which product margins are generally lower. Adjusted EBITDA We present information below with respect to adjusted EBITDA, which we define as our net loss excluding interest and other income, net, income tax benefit, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, product rationalization charges, and other non-recurring expenses. Adjusted EBITDA is not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation of, or as an alternative to, measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. There are a number of limitations related to the use of adjusted EBITDA rather than net income (loss), which is the nearest U.S. GAAP equivalent. Some of these limitations are: 43 • adjusted EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization, and, although these are non-cash expenses, the assets being depreciated or amortized may have to be replaced in the future, the cash requirements for which are not reflected in adjusted EBITDA; • we exclude stock-based compensation expense from adjusted EBITDA although (a) it has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense for our business and an important part of our employee compensation strategy and (b) if we did not pay out a portion of our compensation in the form of stock-based compensation, the cash salary and bonus expense included in operating expenses likely would be higher, which would affect our cash position; • we exclude acquisition related expenses, including transaction costs and other related expenses, amortization and depreciation of acquired assets in recent acquisitions, and the impact of inventory fair-value step up on cost of goods sold; • we exclude certain impairment charges, including impairment related to intangible assets, certain product rationalization charges; • we exclude goodwill impairment charges and changes in the fair value of contingent consideration; • we exclude certain other non-recurring costs, such as costs associated with shareholder activism; • the expenses and other items that we exclude in our calculation of adjusted EBITDA may differ from the expenses and other items, if any, that other companies may exclude from adjusted EBITDA when they report their operating results; • adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs; • adjusted EBITDA does not reflect provision for (benefit from) income taxes or the cash requirements to pay taxes; and • adjusted EBITDA does not reflect historical cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments. The following is a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net loss from operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 respectively: Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 Net loss from continuing operations $ (8,828) $ (3,439) Interest and other expense, net (2,337) (2,312) Provision for income taxes 6,064 6,595 Depreciation and amortization 5,688 5,506 Stock-based compensation 12,158 13,537 Product rationalization charges 606 748 Costs of shareholder activism 2,185 3,033 Adjusted EBITDA $ 15,536 $ 23,668 Adjusted EBITDA for year ended December 31, 2024 was $15.5 million, a decrease of $8.2 million as compared to 2023. The decrease in adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to lower adjusted gross profit and higher research and development spending in 2024 on product development and clinical activity, primarily with Integrity, Hyalofast and Cingal. 44 Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted EPS from Continuing Operations We present information below with respect to adjusted net loss and adjusted EPS from continuing operations. We define adjusted net loss from continuing operations as our net loss from continuing operations excluding amortization and depreciation of acquired assets, the impact of inventory fair-value step up on cost of revenue, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, as well as certain impairment charges, including impairment related to IPR&D assets and non-cash product rationalization charges, each on a tax effected basis. Acquisition-related expenses are those that we would not have incurred except as a direct result of acquisition transactions. The amortized assets contribute to revenue generation and the amortization of such assets will recur in future periods until such assets are fully amortized. These assets include the estimated fair value of certain identified assets acquired in acquisitions, including in-process research and development (“IPR&D”), developed technology, customer relationships and acquired trade names. We define adjusted EPS from continuing operations as U.S. GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations excluding the above adjustments to net loss from continuing operations used in calculating adjusted net loss from continuing operations, each on a per share and tax effected basis. The following is a reconciliation of adjusted net income from continuing operations to net loss from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively: Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 Net loss from continuing operations $ (8,828) $ (3,439) Product rationalization charges, tax effected 457 725 Share-based compensation, tax effected 9,167 13,114 Costs of shareholder activism, tax effected 1,647 2,938 Adjusted net income from continuing operations $ 2,443 $ 13,338 The following is a reconciliation of adjusted diluted income from continuing operations per share to diluted loss from continuing operations per share for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively (in thousands, expect per share data): Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 Diluted loss from continuing operations per share $ (0.60) $ (0.23) Product rationalization charges, tax effected 0.03 0.05 Share-based compensation, tax effected 0.62 0.89 Costs of shareholder activism, tax effected 0.11 0.20 Adjusted diluted income from continuing operations per share $ 0.16 $ 0.91 Adjusted net income from continuing operations in 2024 was $2.4 million, a decrease of $10.9 million as compared to 2023. The decrease in adjusted net income from continuing operations and adjusted diluted income from continuing operations per share for the period was primarily due to higher manufacturing expenses and research and development costs during the year. 45 Results of Operations Year ended December 31, 2023 compared to year ended December 31, 2022 Statement of Operations Detail Year Ended December 31, 2023 2022 $ Change % Change (in thousands, except percentages) Revenue $ 120,792 $ 113,827 $ 6,965 6% Cost of revenue 38,260 40,607 (2,347) (6%) Gross profit 82,532 73,220 9,312 13% Gross margin 68% 64% Operating expenses: Research & development 21,763 18,321 3,442 19% Selling, general & administrative 59,925 51,229 8,696 17% Total operating expenses 81,688 69,550 12,138 17% Income (loss) from operations 844 3,670 (2,826) (77%) Interest and other expense, net 2,312 654 1,658 254% Income before income taxes 3,156 4,324 (1,168) (27%) Provision for income taxes 6,595 2,124 4,471 210% (Loss) income from continuing operations (3,439) 2,200 (5,639) (256%) Loss from discontinued operations (79,228) (17,059) (62,169) 364% Net loss $ (82,667) $ (14,859) $ (67,808) 456% Revenue The following table presents revenue by product family for fiscal years 2023 and 2022 (dollars in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2023 2022 $ Change % Change OEM Channel $ 84,645 $ 81,675 $ 2,970 4% Commercial Channel 36,147 32,152 3,995 12% $ 120,792 $ 113,827 $ 6,965 6% Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $120.8 million, an increase of $7.0 million, or 6%, compared to the prior year. The increase in revenue was driven by growing global commercial adoption of our OA Pain Management products as well as our introduction of new products in recent years. Revenue from our OEM channel product family increased 4% for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to prior year, due to domestic sales growth of our Monovisc single injection pain product and favorable ordering patterns from J&J MedTech. Revenue from our Commercial Channel product family increased 12% for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to prior year, due to international sales growth of our Monovisc single injection pain product and our Cingal next generation non-opioid single injection pain product, as well as favorable ordering patterns from our distributors. 46 Gross Profit and Margin Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $82.5 million, or gross margin of 68%, as compared with $73.2 million, or gross margin of 64%, for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily resulted from higher revenue growth, improved manufacturing efficiency and lower product rationalization charges. This increase was partially offset by higher costs due to inflationary pressures for raw materials and freight charges. Research and Development Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $21.8 million, an increase of $3.5 million, or 19%, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to increased costs to ensure compliance with growing regulatory requirements globally, such as EU MDR, as well as new product development associated with our research and development pipeline, led by Integrity, which received FDA clearance in August 2023 and was launched with first surgeries in rotator cuff repair and other tendon procedures in November 2023. Selling, General and Administrative Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $59.9 million, an increase of $8.7 million, or 17%, as compared to the prior year. The increase in SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to shareholder activism and related corporate costs during the year. Income from Operations For the year ended December 31, 2023, the loss from operations was $0.8 million, compared to income from operations of $3.7 million for the prior year. The $2.8 million decrease in income from operations was due higher operating expenses. Income Taxes The provision for income taxes was $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, resulting in an effective tax rate of 209.0%. The provision from income taxes was $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, resulting in an effective tax rate of 49.1%. The increase in our effective rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 is primarily due to a higher valuation allowance being recorded on U.S. deferred tax assets in 2023. 47 Concentration of Risk We have historically derived the majority of our revenue from a small number of customers, most of whom resell our products to end-users and are significantly larger companies than us. For the year ended December 31, 2024, J&J MedTech accounted for 57% of revenue, as compared to 62% in prior year. While we believe that our expanded commercial infrastructure has been and will continue to diversify our revenue base, we expect to continue to be dependent on a small number of large customers, especially J&J MedTech, for a sizeable portion of our revenues in the near-term future. The failure of these customers to purchase our products in the amounts they historically have or in amounts that we expect could materially impact our business. We also have Notes Receivable that we have recorded as consideration related to the divestiture of the Arthrosurface asset group in which repayment will be dependent upon the cash flows from the Arthrosurface asset group. In addition, if present and future customers terminate their purchasing arrangements with us, significantly reduce or delay their orders, or seek to renegotiate their agreements on terms less favorable to us, our business, financial condition, and results of operations will be adversely affected. If we accept terms less favorable than the terms of the current agreements, such renegotiations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and/or results of operations. Furthermore, in any future negotiations we may be subject to the perceived or actual leverage that these customers may have given their relative size and importance to us. Any termination, change, reduction, or delay in orders could seriously harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Accordingly, unless and until we diversify and expand our customer base, our future success will significantly depend upon the timing and size of future purchases by our largest customers and the financial and operational success of these customers. The loss of any one of our major customers or the delay of significant orders from such customers, even if only temporary, could reduce or delay our recognition of revenues, harm our reputation in the industry, and reduce our ability to accurately predict cash flow, and, consequently, it could seriously harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. See Note 12, Revenue and Geographic Information; Geographic Information, to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding significant customers. Liquidity and Capital Resources We require cash to fund our operating activities and to make capital expenditures and other investments in the business. We expect that our requirements for cash to fund these uses will increase as our operations expand. We believe that our operating cash flows, cash currently on our balance sheet and availability under our credit facility will be sufficient to allow us to continue to invest in our existing business, to manage our capital structure on a short and long-term basis, and to meet our anticipated operating cash needs. Cash, cash equivalents, and investments aggregated $55.6 million and $68.7 million, and working capital totaled $90.3 million and $132.3 million, at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We entered into a Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, on November 12, 2021, with Bank of America N.A. as administrative agent, which amended our existing revolving line of credit agreement dated October 24, 2017 and provides up to $75.0 million in the form of a senior revolving line of credit. Subject to certain conditions, we may request up to an additional $75.0 million for a maximum aggregate commitment of $150.0 million. As of December 31, 2024, and 2023, there were no outstanding borrowings, and we are in compliance with the terms of the credit facility. Summary of Cash Flows (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Cash provided by (used in) Operating activities $ 5,403 $ (1,788) $ 4,409 Investing activities (8,334) (5,427) (7,486) Financing activities (12,729) (6,324) (4,852) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (48) 79 (130) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents $ (15,708) $ (13,460) $ (8,059) 48 The following changes contributed to the net change in cash and cash equivalents from 2023 to 2024. Operating Activities Cash provided by (used in) operating activities was $5.4 million, $(1.8) million and $4.4 million for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change in 2024 was primarily attributable to a lower net loss in 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. For the foreseeable future, we expect to continue to invest in research and development for new products and clinical trials related to our HA-based technology to support our growth strategy. These costs will be funded with a combination of cash on hand and cash expected to be generated from future operations. Investing Activities Cash used in investing activities was $8.3 million, $5.4 million and $7.5 million for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change was primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures in 2024 to support the expansion of manufacturing capacity at our Bedford facility and a purchase of developed technology for $0.6 million. Financing Activities Cash used in financing activities was $12.7 million, $6.3 million and $4.9 million for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change in 2024 was primarily due to $10.9 million used to fund the stock repurchase program we started in May 2024. For a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources as of December 31, 2023, and our cash flow activities for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2024, which is incorporated by reference in this Report. Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments The table below summarizes our non-cancelable operating leases, purchase commitments, and contractual obligations related to future periods which are not reflected in our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2024. Purchase commitments relate primarily to non-cancellable inventory commitments and capital expenditures entered in the normal course of business: Payments due by period (in thousands) Less than More than Total 1 year 1 - 3 years 3 - 5 years 5 years Operating Leases $ 32,810 $ 2,783 $ 4,797 $ 4,658 $ 20,572 Year Ended December 31, 2024 $ 32,810 $ 2,783 $ 4,797 $ 4,658 $ 20,572 We also have purchase orders and commitments for materials and other day-to-day business requirements in which there are no material commitments greater than one year. Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We monitor our estimates on an ongoing basis for changes in facts and circumstances, and material changes in these estimates could occur in the future. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. We base our estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from our estimates if past experience or other assumptions do not turn out to be substantially accurate. 49 We have identified the policies below as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations. The impact and any associated risks related to these policies on our business operations are discussed throughout this section captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” where such policies affect our reported and expected financial results. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Revenue Recognition – General Pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, we recognize revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. The amount of revenue that is recorded reflects the consideration that we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. We apply the following five-step model in order to determine this amount: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are capable of being distinct or distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation. We generate sales principally through three types of customers: (i) commercial partnerships (ii) hospitals and ambulatory service centers, and (iii) distributors, referred to as distribution model. For commercial partnership sales, we sell our products directly to these partners, who perform most of the downstream sales and marketing activities to customers and end-users. These arrangements may include the grant of certain licenses, performance of development services, and the supply of product. Our largest such customer, J&J MedTech, represented 57% of total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024. We recognize revenue from product sales when the customer obtains control of our product, which typically occurs upon shipment to the customer. Commercial partnership agreements may also include sales-based royalties and milestones. As we considered the license to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate for these agreements, sales-based royalties and milestones are only recognized when the later of the underlying sale occurs or the performance obligation to which some or all of the sales-based royalty has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). This is generally in the same period that our licensees complete their product sales in their territory, for which we are contractually entitled to a percentage- based royalty. We record royalty revenues based on estimated net sales of licensed products as reported to us by our commercial partners. The differences between actual and estimated royalty revenues have not been material and are typically adjusted in the following quarter when the actual amounts are known. Revenue from sales-based royalties is included in revenues in our consolidated statement of operations. For sales to hospitals and ambulatory service centers, which generally pairs in-house sales representatives with local or regional distributors, the inventory is generally consigned so that products are available when needed for surgical procedures. No revenue is recognized upon the placement of inventory into consignment, as we retain the ability to control the inventory. Revenue is recognized typically as of the date of surgical implantation of the product. For distributor sales, we sell our products to our distributors, generally outside the United States, who subsequently resell the products to sub-distributors and health care providers, among others. We recognize revenue from product sales when the distributor obtains control of our product, which typically occurs upon shipment to the distributor, in return for agreed-upon, fixed-price consideration. Performance obligations are generally settled quickly after purchase order acceptance; therefore, the value of unsatisfied performance obligations at the end of any reporting period is generally insignificant. We sell to a diversified base of distributors and, therefore, we believe there is no material concentration of credit risk. Certain of our supply agreements contain terms that represent a promise to deliver product at the customer’s discretion that are considered distributor options. We assess if these options provide a material right to the licensee, and if so, they are accounted for as separate performance obligations. Our supply agreements do not provide options that are considered material rights. Our payment terms are consistent with prevailing practice in the respective markets in which we do business. Most of our customers make payments based on contract terms, which are not affected by contingent events that could impact the transaction price. Payment terms fall within the one-year guidance for the practical expedient, which allows us to forgo adjustment of the contractual payment amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component. Some of our distributor agreements have volume-based discounts with tiered pricing which are generally prospective in nature. These prospective discounts together with any free-of-charge sample units offered are evaluated as potential material rights. If the prospective discounts or free-of-charge sample units are considered material rights, these would be separate performance obligations and a portion of the sales transaction price is allocated to the material right. Revenue allocated to the material right is recognized when the additional goods are transferred to the customer or when the option expires. During 2024, the consideration allocated to material rights was not significant. We receive payments from our customers based on billing schedules established in each contract. Up-front payments and fees are recorded as deferred revenue upon receipt or when due and may require deferral of revenue recognition to a future period until we perform our obligations under these arrangements. Amounts are recorded as accounts receivable when our right to consideration is unconditional. There was no deferred revenue as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. 50 Generally, customer contracts contain Free on Board (“FOB”) or Ex-Works shipping point terms where the customer pays the shipping company directly for all shipping and handling costs. In those contracts in which we pay for the shipping and handling, the associated costs are generally recorded along with the product sale at the time of shipment in cost of revenue when control over the products has transferred to the customer. Value-add and other taxes we collected concurrently with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue. Our general product warranty does not extend beyond an assurance that the product or services delivered will be consistent with stated contractual specifications, which does not create a separate performance obligation. We recognize the incremental costs of obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred as the amortization period of the assets that we otherwise would have recognized is one year or less in accordance with the practical expedient in paragraph Code 340-40-25-4. These costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Inventories Inventories are primarily stated at the lower of standard cost and net realizable value, with approximate cost determined using the first-in, first-out method. Work-in-process and finished goods inventories include materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead. Manufacturing variances attributable to abnormally low production are expensed in the period incurred. Inventory costs associated with product candidates that have not yet received regulatory approval are capitalized if we believe there is probable future commercial use and future economic benefit. Our policy is to write down inventory when conditions exist that suggest inventory may be in excess of anticipated demand or is obsolete based upon assumptions about future demand for our products and market conditions. We regularly evaluate the ability to realize the value of inventory based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, historical usage rates, forecasted sales or usage, product end of life dates, and estimated current or future market values. Inventory needs and alternative usage avenues are explored within these processes to mitigate inventory exposure. When recorded, inventory write-downs are intended to reduce the carrying value of inventory to its net realizable value. If actual demand for our products deteriorates, or if market conditions are less favorable than those projected, additional inventory write-downs may be required. Other long-term assets include inventory expected to remain on hand beyond one year. Goodwill Goodwill is the amount by which the purchase price of acquired net assets in a business combination exceeded the fair values of net identifiable assets on the date of acquisition. Goodwill is not amortized but is subject to impairment test annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances suggest that the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable, utilizing either the qualitative or quantitative method. We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis as of November 30 or more frequently if we believe indicators of impairment exist. We have two reporting units: the legacy Anika reporting unit and a reporting unit established in 2020 upon the acquisitions of Parcus Medical and Arthrosurface. The remaining goodwill as of December 31, 2024 pertains to the legacy Anika reporting unit, as the goodwill with respect to the Parcus Medical and Arthrosurface reporting unit was fully impaired in 2020. We have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. We used the quantitative method in 2024, we considered several factors, including the following: ●the amount by which the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying value as of the date of the most recent quantitative impairment analysis, which indicated there would need to be substantial negative developments in the markets in which the reporting unit operates for there to be potential impairment; ●the carrying value of the reporting unit as of the assessment date compared to their previously calculated fair value as of the date of the most recent quantitative impairment analysis; ●the current forecasts as compared to the forecasts included in the most recent quantitative impairment analysis; ●public information from competitors and other industry information to determine if there were any significant adverse trends in our competitors' businesses; ●changes in the value of major U.S. stock indices that could suggest declines in overall market stability that could impact the valuation of our reporting unit; ●whether there had been any significant increases in the weighted-average cost of capital rates for the reporting unit, which could materially lower our prior valuation conclusions under a discounted cash flow approach. 51 Significant assumptions utilized in the impairment analysis included valuation multiple with respect to revenue and weighted-average cost of capital. Based on sensitivity analysis performed on key assumptions at November 30, 2024, a 10% decrease in valuation multiples or a 10% increase in the weighted average cost of capital assumption would not have resulted in a fair value below the reporting unit’s carrying value. Accordingly, we determined it was not more likely than not that the fair value of the legacy Anika reporting unit is less than its carrying amount and thus goodwill was not impaired as of November 30, 2024. Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets primarily include property and equipment and intangible assets with finite lives. Our intangible assets are comprised of purchased developed technologies, patents, trade names, customer relationships and distributor relationships. These intangible assets are carried at cost, net of accumulated amortization. Amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the intangible assets' useful lives, which range from approximately three to sixteen years. We review long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable or that the useful lives of those assets are no longer appropriate. Each impairment test is based on a comparison of the undiscounted cash flows to the recorded value of the asset. If impairment is indicated, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value based on a discounted cash flow analysis. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we determined that certain of our intangible assets related to our Arthrosurface and Parcus reporting unit were impaired mainly due to slower than expected revenue growth from product sales that have impacted cash flows with this reporting unit. As a result, we recorded $1.5 million and $62.2 million in impairment charges to intangible assets related to our Arthrosurface and Parcus reporting units during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively in discontinued operations. In determining the useful lives of intangible assets, we consider the expected use of the assets and the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, anticipated technological advances, changes in surgical techniques, market influences and other economic factors. For technology-based intangible assets, we consider the expected life cycles of products, absent unforeseen technological advances, which incorporate the corresponding technology. Recent Accounting Pronouncements A discussion of recent accounting pronouncements is included in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Interest Rate Risk We manage our investment portfolio in accordance with our investment policy. The primary objectives of our investment policy are to preserve principal, maintain a high degree of liquidity to meet operating and other needs, and obtain competitive returns subject to prevailing market conditions without significantly increasing risk. To achieve this objective, we maintain our portfolio of cash equivalents and investments in a variety of high-quality securities, including money market funds and U.S. treasury bills. The investments are classified as available-for-sale and consequently are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Our portfolio of cash equivalents and investments is subject to interest rate fluctuations, changes in credit quality of the issuer, and other factors. Foreign Currency Exchange Risk Foreign currency risk arises from our investments in subsidiaries owned and operated in non-U.S. countries. Such risk is also a result of transactions with customers in countries outside the United States. Approximately $24.8 million of our revenue was denominated in foreign currencies (primarily the Euro and UK pound sterling) for the year ended December 31, 2024. Gains and losses arising from transactions denominated in foreign currencies are primarily related to intercompany accounts that have been determined to be temporary in nature and cash, accounts payable, and accounts receivable denominated in non-functional currencies. We also utilize clinical vendors that are located in various countries outside of the United States and invoice us in their local currency and we have one major supplier contract denominated in a foreign currency. We do not engage in foreign currency hedging arrangements for these transactions, and, consequently, foreign currency fluctuations may adversely affect our earnings. Unfavorable fluctuations in exchange rates would have a negative impact on our financial statements. The impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations related to our international subsidiaries on our financial statements were insignificant in 2024. We recognize foreign currency gains or losses arising from our operations in the period incurred. 52 ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 34) 54 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 56 Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 57 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 58 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 59 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 60 53 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. Opinion on the Financial Statements We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 13, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Basis for Opinion These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. Critical Audit Matter The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate. Reserve for Excess and Obsolete Inventories — Refer to Notes 2 and 5 to the financial statements Critical Audit Matter Description The Company evaluates inventory each reporting period for excess quantities and obsolescence, establishing reserves when necessary, based upon historical experience, assessment of economic conditions, and expected demand. Once recorded, the inventory reserve write-offs are considered permanent adjustments to the carrying value of inventory. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has total inventories of $23.8 million, net of excess quantities and obsolescence reserves. We identified the reserve for excess quantities and obsolete inventory as a critical audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions management makes to quantify and to record the reserve, including the determination of expected demand. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort when performing audit procedures to evaluate the methodology and the reasonableness of assumptions including expected demand. 54 How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit Our audit procedures related to the reserve for excess quantities and obsolete inventory including management’s estimate of expected demand, included the following, among others: ● We tested the effectiveness of controls over the estimation of reserve for excess quantities and obsolete inventory. ● We evaluated the reasonableness of the Company's excess and obsolete inventory policy, considering historical experience and the underlying assumptions. ● We tested the calculation of the excess and obsolescence reserve pursuant to the Company's policy, on a sample basis, including the completeness and accuracy of the data used in the calculation. ● We performed procedures to evaluate management’s ability to accurately forecast by comparing the historical expiring inventory estimates to subsequent inventory destructions and expirations. ● We performed a retrospective review by comparing management’s prior year projections of future demand by product, with actual product sales in the current year to identify potential bias in the inventory reserve. ● We made inquiries of senior financial and operating management to determine whether any strategic, regulatory, or operational changes in the business were consistent with the projections of future demand that were utilized as the basis for the excess and obsolescence reserve recorded. ● We considered the existence of contradictory evidence based on consideration of internal communications to management and the board of directors, Company press releases, and analysts' reports, as well as any changes within the business. /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP Boston, Massachusetts March 14, 2025 We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017. 55 Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except per share data) December 31, ASSETS 2024 2023 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 55,629 $ 68,740 Accounts receivable, net 23,594 26,360 Inventories 23,809 24,428 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 5,494 7,476 Current assets held for sale 5,126 36,305 Total current assets 113,652 163,309 Property and equipment, net 38,994 37,445 Right-of-use assets 25,685 27,554 Other long-term assets 5,656 5,725 Notes receivable 5,935 - Deferred tax assets 1,177 1,489 Intangible assets, net 2,490 2,576 Goodwill 7,125 7,571 Non-current assets held for sale 2,026 24,963 Total assets $ 202,740 $ 270,632 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 5,617 $ 6,194 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 13,567 14,066 Current liabilities held for sale 4,122 10,799 Total current liabilities 23,306 31,059 Other long-term liabilities 772 404 Lease liabilities 24,014 25,915 Non-current liabilities held for sale 659 989 Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) Stockholders’ equity: Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 1,250 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively - - Common stock, $.01 par value; 90,000 shares authorized, 15,010 issued and 14,416 outstanding and 14,848 shares issued and 14,660 outstanding at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively 144 147 Additional paid-in-capital 88,961 90,009 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (6,783) (5,943) Retained earnings 71,667 128,052 Total stockholders’ equity 153,989 212,265 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 202,740 $ 270,632 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 56 Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (in thousands, except per share data) For the Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Revenue $ 119,907 $ 120,792 $ 113,827 Cost of revenue 43,909 38,260 40,607 Gross profit 75,998 82,532 73,220 Operating expenses: Research & development 25,544 21,763 18,321 Selling, general & administrative 55,555 59,925 51,229 Total operating expenses 81,099 81,688 69,550 (Loss) income from operations (5,101) 844 3,670 Interest and other income (expense), net 2,337 2,312 654 (Loss) income before income taxes (2,764) 3,156 4,324 Provision for income taxes 6,064 6,595 2,124 (Loss) income from continuing operations (8,828) (3,439) 2,200 Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (47,557) (79,228) (17,059) Net loss $ (56,385) $ (82,667) $ (14,859) (Loss) earnings per share: Basic Continuing operations $ (0.60) $ (0.23) $ 0.15 Discontinued operations (3.23) (5.41) (1.17) $ (3.83) $ (5.64) $ (1.02) Diluted Continuing operations $ (0.60) $ (0.23) $ 0.15 Discontinued operations (3.23) (5.41) (1.17) $ (3.83) $ (5.64) $ (1.02) Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 14,721 14,656 14,561 Diluted 14,721 14,656 14,787 Net loss $ (56,385) $ (82,667) $ (14,859) Foreign currency translation adjustment (840) 500 (725) Comprehensive loss $ (57,225) $ (82,167) $ (15,584) The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 57 Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (in thousands, except per share data) Accumulated Common Stock Other Total Number of $.01 Par Additional Paid Retained Comprehensive Stockholders' Shares Value in Capital Earnings Loss Equity Balance, December 31, 2021 14,441 $ 144 $ 67,081 $ 225,578 $ (5,718) $ 287,085 Issuance of common stock for equity awards - - 16 - - 16 Vesting of restricted stock units 184 2 (2) - - - Issuance of common stock from employee purchase plan 35 - 665 - - 665 Stock-based compensation expense - - 14,315 - - 14,315 Retirement of common stock for minimum tax withholdings (35) - (934) - - (934) Net loss - - - (14,859) - (14,859) Other comprehensive loss - - - - (725) (725) Balance, December 31, 2022 14,625 $ 146 $ 81,141 $ 210,719 $ (6,443) $ 285,563 Issuance of common stock for equity awards 2 - 23 - - 23 Vesting of restricted stock units 262 3 (3) - - - Issuance of common stock from employee purchase plan 41 - 805 - - 805 Stock-based compensation expense - - 15,243 - - 15,243 Repurchase of common stock (188) (2) (5,048) - - (5,050) Retirement of common stock for minimum tax withholdings (82) - (2,152) - - (2,152) Net loss - - - (82,667) - (82,667) Other comprehensive loss - - - - 500 500 Balance, December 31, 2023 14,660 $ 147 $ 90,009 $ 128,052 $ (5,943) $ 212,265 Issuance of common stock for equity awards 3 - 76 - - 76 Vesting of restricted stock units 312 3 (2) - - 1 Issuance of common stock from employee purchase plan 44 - 708 - - 708 Stock-based compensation expense - - 11,677 - - 11,677 Repurchase of common stock (506) (5) (10,909) - - (10,914) Retirement of common stock for minimum tax withholdings (97) (1) (2,598) - - (2,599) Net loss - - - (56,385) - (56,385) Other comprehensive income - - - - (840) (840) Balance, December 31, 2024 14,416 $ 144 $ 88,961 $ 71,667 $ (6,783) $ 153,989 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 58 Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands) For the years ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 (a) (a) (a) Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ (56,385) $ (82,667) $ (14,859) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 6,884 6,434 6,704 Amortization of acquisition related intangible assets 1,237 7,783 7,783 Non-cash operating lease cost 2,150 2,231 1,850 Loss on disposal of fixed assets 2,864 1,917 - Loss on impairment of long-lived assets 2,462 62,190 - Stock-based compensation expense 13,130 15,243 14,315 Deferred income taxes 260 (6,327) (5,270) Provision for doubtful accounts 1,185 190 378 Provision for inventory 44,708 3,341 5,329 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 3,366 (1,305) (5,630) Inventories (9,424) (11,396) (6,873) Prepaid expenses, other current and long-term assets 558 560 (792) Accounts payable (2,506) (11) 1,965 Operating lease liabilities (2,082) (2,149) (1,485) Accrued expenses, other current and long-term liabilities (3,669) 1,648 (443) Income taxes 665 530 1,437 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 5,403 (1,788) 4,409 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment (7,734) (5,427) (7,486) Acquisition of intangible asset (600) - - Net cash used in investing activities (8,334) (5,427) (7,486) Cash flows from financing activities: Payments made on finance leases - - (284) Repurchases of common stock (10,914) (5,000) - Proceeds from employee stock purchase program 708 805 665 Cash paid for tax withheld on vested restricted stock awards (2,599) (2,152) (934) Proceeds from exercises of equity awards 76 23 16 Payments of contingent consideration - - (4,315) Net cash used in financing activities (12,729) (6,324) (4,852) Exchange rate impact on cash (48) 79 (130) Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (15,708) (13,460) (8,059) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 72,867 86,327 94,386 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 57,159 $ 72,867 $ 86,327 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds $ 3,993 $ 3,117 $ 106 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities $ - $ 268 $ 11,703 Non-cash investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 639 $ 815 $ 108 Notes receivable $ 5,935 $ - $ - (a) The cash flows related to discontinued operations and held-for-sale assets and liabilities have not been segregated and remain included in the major classes of assets and liabilities. Accordingly, the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows include the results of continuing and discontinued operations. The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 59 Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise noted) 1. Nature of Business Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) is a global joint preservation company in the osteoarthritis (“OA”) pain management and regenerative solutions spaces, focusing on early intervention orthopedics. The Company offers differentiated advancements in regenerative therapies and OA Pain Management, all designed to restore active living, empower surgeon choice, and enhance patient outcomes worldwide. In early 2020, the Company expanded its overall technology platform through its strategic acquisitions of Parcus Medical, LLC (“Parcus Medical”), a sports medicine implant and instrumentation company, and Arthrosurface Incorporated (“Arthrosurface”), a company specializing in less invasive, bone preserving partial and total joint replacement solutions. These acquisitions broadened the Company's product portfolio, developed over its 30 years of expertise in hyaluronic acid technology, into joint preservation and restoration, added higher-growth revenue streams, increased its commercial capabilities, diversified its revenue base, and expanded its product pipeline and research and development expertise. In October 2024, the Company announced a strategic shift to concentrate on OA Pain Management and Regenerative Solutions. This strategic decision resulted in the sale of Arthrosurface on October 31. 2024 and the sale of Parcus Medical on March 7, 2025, both of which were acquired in early 2020. The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the life sciences industry including, but not limited to, development by the Company or its competitors of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, commercialization of existing and new products, and compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and foreign regulations and approval requirements, as well as the ability to grow the Company’s business through appropriate commercial strategies. 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Anika Securities, Inc., Anika Therapeutics S.r.l. (“Anika S.r.l.”), Anika Therapeutics Limited, Parcus Medical and Arthrosurface. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. As noted above , the Company made a strategic decision in October 2024 that resulted in the sales of Arthrosurface and Parcus Medical. The consolidated financial statements reflect the Arthrosurface and Parcus results of operations as discontinued operations, and the related assets and liabilities as held-for-sale for all periods presented. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial operations to reflect discontinued operations presentation. Unless otherwise noted, amounts and disclosures throughout these consolidated financial statements relate solely to continuing operations and exclude all discontinued operations. Foreign Currency Translation The functional currency of Anika S.r.l. is the Euro and the functional currency of Anika Therapeutics Limited is the British Pound Sterling. Assets and liabilities of the foreign subsidiaries are translated using the exchange rate existing on each respective balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated using the average exchange rates for the period. The translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) which resulted in a (loss) gain from foreign currency translation of $(0.8) million, $0.5 million, and ($0.7) million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. Recorded balances that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are remeasured to the functional currency using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date and gains or losses are recorded in the statements of operations. The Company recognized a loss from foreign currency transactions of ($0.2) million, ($0.1) million, and ($0.5) million during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. 60 Accounts Receivable The Company estimates an allowance for credit losses with its accounts receivable resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. In determining the adequacy of the allowance, management specifically analyzes individual accounts receivable, historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer creditworthiness, current and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, accounts receivable aging trends, and changes in the Company’s customer payment terms. The components of the Company’s accounts receivables are as follows: As of December 31, 2024 2023 Accounts Receivable $ 24,324 $ 27,026 Less: Allowance for credit losses 730 666 Net balance, end of the year $ 23,594 $ 26,360 A summary of activity in the allowance for credit losses is as follows: As of December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Balance, beginning of the year $ 666 $ 821 $ 941 Amounts provided 195 101 132 Amounts recovered (65) (105) (176) Amounts written off (36) (125) (26) Translation adjustments (30) (26) (50) Balance, end of the year $ 730 $ 666 $ 821 Revenue Recognition Pursuant to Accounting Standard Codification 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), the Company recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. The amount of revenue that is recorded reflects the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The Company applies the following five-step model in order to determine this amount: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are capable of being distinct or distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. Revenue The Company generates sales principally through three types of customers: (i) commercial partnerships (ii) hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (“ASCs”), and (iii) distributors, referred to as the distribution model. For commercial partnership sales, the Company sells its products directly to these partners, who perform most of the downstream sales and marketing activities to customers and end-users. These arrangements may include the grant of certain licenses, performance of development services, and the supply of product. The Company’s largest such customer, Johnson & Johnson MedTech (“J&J MedTech”) (previously known as DePuy Synthes Mitek Sports Medicine), a division of DePuy Orthopedics, Inc., part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Companies, represented 57%, 62% and 60% of total revenues for the years-ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 respectively. The Company completed the performance obligations related to granted licenses and development services under the agreements with J&J MedTech prior to 2016 and has no remaining material performance obligations. The Company recognizes revenue from product sales when the customer obtains control of the Company’s product, which typically occurs upon shipment to the customer. Commercial partnership agreements may also include sales-based royalties and milestones. As the Company considered the license to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate for these agreements, sales-based royalties and milestones are only recognized when the later of the underlying sale occurs or the performance obligation to which the sales-based royalty has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). This is generally in the same period that the Company’s licensees complete their product sales in their territory, for which the Company is contractually entitled to a percentage-based royalty. The Company records royalty revenues based on estimated net sales of licensed products as reported to the Company by its commercial partners. The differences between actual and estimated royalty revenues have not been material and are typically adjusted in the following quarter when the actual amounts are known. Revenue from sales-based royalties is included in revenue in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company’s certain supply agreements represent a promise to deliver products at the customer’s discretion that are considered distributor options. The Company assesses if these options provide a material right to the licensee, and if so, they are accounted for as separate performance obligations. Substantially all the Company’s supply agreements do not provide options that are considered material rights. 61 For sales to hospitals and ASCs, which generally pairs in-house sales representatives with local or regional distributors, the inventory is generally consigned so that products are available when needed for surgical procedures. No revenue is recognized upon the placement of inventory into consignment, as the Company retains the ability to control the inventory. Revenue is typically recognized as of the date of surgical implantation of the product. For distributor sales, the Company sells its products principally to distributors, generally outside the United States, who subsequently resell the products to sub-distributors and health care providers, among others. The Company recognizes revenue from product sales when the distributor obtains control of the Company’s product, which typically occurs upon shipment to the distributor, in return for agreed-upon, fixed-price consideration. Performance obligations are generally settled quickly after purchase order acceptance; therefore, the value of unsatisfied performance obligations at the end of any reporting period is generally insignificant. The Company sells to a diversified base of international distributors and, therefore, believes there is no material concentration of credit risk. The Company’s payment terms are consistent with prevailing practice in the respective markets in which the Company does business. Most of the Company’s customers make payments based on contract terms, which are not affected by contingent events that could impact the transaction price. Payment terms fall within the one-year guidance for the practical expedient, which allows the Company to forgo adjustment of the contractual payment amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component. Some of the Company’s distributor agreements have volume-based discounts with tiered pricing which are generally prospective in nature. These prospective discounts together with any free-of-charge sample units offered are evaluated as potential material rights. If the prospective discounts or free-of-charge sample units are considered material rights, these would be separate performance obligations and a portion of the sales transaction price is allocated to the material right. Revenue allocated to the material right is recognized when the additional goods are transferred to the customer or when the option expires. During 2024, 2023 and 2022, the consideration allocated to material rights was not significant. The Company receives payments from its customers based on billing schedules established in each contract. Any up-front payments and fees are recorded as deferred revenue upon receipt or when due and may require deferral of revenue recognition to a future period until the Company performs its obligations under these arrangements. Amounts are recorded as accounts receivable when its right to consideration is unconditional. The Company had no deferred revenue as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Generally, customer contracts contain Free on Board (“FOB”) or Ex-Works shipping point terms where the customer pays the shipping company directly for all shipping and handling costs. In those contracts in which the Company pays for the shipping and handling, the associated costs are generally recorded along with the product sale at the time of shipment in cost of revenue when control over the products has transferred to the customer. Value-add and other taxes collected by the Company concurrently with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue. The Company’s general product warranty does not extend beyond an assurance that the product or services delivered will be consistent with stated contractual specifications, which does not create a separate performance obligation. The Company recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred as the amortization period of the assets that the Company otherwise would have recognized is one year or less in accordance with the practical expedient in paragraph Code 340-40-25-4. These costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Licensing, Milestone and Contract Revenue The agreements with J&J MedTech include variable consideration such as contingent development and regulatory milestones. Since 2016, there have been no remaining regulatory milestones related to the J&J MedTech agreements. In general, variable consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized is not probable to occur. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers only those investments which are highly liquid, readily convertible to cash, and that mature within 90 days from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash equivalents consist of money market funds. 62 Investments The Company may invest its excess cash in investments, which are classified as available-for-sale. Investments are recognized on a recurring basis at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of related income taxes. For securities sold prior to maturity, the cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are recorded in interest and other income, net. Interest is recorded when earned. Investments with original maturities greater than approximately three months and remaining maturities less than one year are classified as short-term investments. Investments with remaining maturities greater than one year are classified as long-term investments. The Company had no investments as of December 31, 2024 or December 31, 2023. Investments are subject to a periodic impairment review. For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether (i) the Company intends to sell, or (ii) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either case is affirmative, any previously recognized allowances are charged-off and the security's amortized cost is written down to fair value through earnings. If neither case is affirmative, the security is evaluated to determine whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in the consolidated statement of operations as a component of credit loss expense. Available-for-sale securities are charged-off against the allowance or, in the absence of any allowance, written down through earnings when deemed uncollectible by management or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not record any impairment charges on its available-for-sale securities because it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these securities before the recovery of their cost basis. Concentration of Credit Risk The Company has no significant off-balance sheet risks related to foreign exchange contracts, option contracts, or other foreign hedging arrangements. The Company’s cash equivalents and investments are held with three major financial institutions. The Company, by policy, routinely assesses the financial strength of its customers. As a result, the Company believes that its accounts receivable credit risk exposure is limited. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, J&J MedTech represented 56% and 63%, respectively, of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. No other single customer accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable in either period. Notes Receivable In October 2024, the Company sold the Arthrosurface Asset Group to Phoenix Brio, Inc. (the “Buyer”) (refer to Note 3) in exchange for consideration which included a 10-year $7.0 million non-interest-bearing note receivable (the “Term Note Receivable”), as well as variable consideration to be paid by the Buyer in twenty quarterly installments of 3% of the Buyer’s net sales (the “Royalty Note Receivable” and collectively the “Notes Receivable”). The Company recognized the Term Note Receivable and the Royalty Note Receivable at their estimated fair values of $3.8 million and $2.1 million, respectively. The fair value of the Notes Receivable was determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis of the contractually scheduled repayments for the Term Note Receivable and the forecasted variable payments for the Royalty Note Receivable, using a discount rate of 12.75%. The Notes Receivable are subsequently measured at amortized cost, as adjusted for estimated credit losses. Inventories Inventories are primarily stated at the lower of standard cost and net realizable value, with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method. Work-in- process and finished goods inventories include materials, labor, and certain manufacturing overhead. Manufacturing variances attributable to abnormally low production are expensed in the period incurred. The Company’s policy is to write down inventory when conditions exist that suggest inventory may be in excess of anticipated demand or is obsolete based upon assumptions about future demand for the Company’s products and market conditions. The Company regularly evaluates the ability to realize the value of inventory based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, historical usage rates, forecasted sales or usage, product end of life dates, and estimated current or future market values. Purchasing requirements and alternative usage avenues are explored within these processes to mitigate inventory exposure. When recorded, inventory write-downs are intended to reduce the carrying value of inventory to its net realizable value. If actual demand for the Company’s products deteriorates, or if market conditions are less favorable than those projected, additional inventory write-downs may be required. Other long-term assets include inventory expected to remain on hand beyond one year. Leases At the inception of an arrangement, the Company determines whether the arrangement is or contains a lease based on the circumstances present and evaluates whether the lease is an operating lease or a finance lease at the commencement date. Operating and finance leases with a term greater than one year are recognized on the consolidated balance sheet as right-of-use assets, lease liabilities, and, if applicable, long-term lease liabilities. The Company includes renewal options to extend the lease in the lease term where it is reasonably certain that it will exercise these options. Operating and finance lease liabilities and the corresponding right-of-use assets are recorded based on the present values of lease payments over the lease terms. The Company elected an accounting policy to combine the non-lease components (which include common area maintenance, taxes and insurance) with the related lease component. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. As such, the Company utilizes the appropriate incremental borrowing rates, which are the rates that would be incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis, over similar terms, amounts equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Variable payments that do not depend on a rate or index are not included in the lease liability and are recognized as incurred. Lease contracts do not include residual value guarantees nor do they include restrictions or other covenants. Certain adjustments to the right-of-use assets may be required for items such as initial direct costs paid, incentives received or lease prepayments. If significant events, changes in circumstances, or other events indicate that the lease term or other inputs have changed, the Company would reassess lease classification, remeasure the finance and operating lease liabilities by using revised inputs as of the reassessment date, and adjust the right-of-use asset. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Finance lease expense is recognized based on the effective-interest method over the lease term. 63 Property and Equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which are typically: Asset Estimated useful life (in years) Computer equipment and software 3 - 10 Furniture and fixtures 5 - 7 Equipment 5 - 20 Leasehold improvements Shorter of useful life or term of lease Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred; additions and improvements are capitalized. Fully depreciated assets are retained in the accounts until they are no longer used and no further charge for depreciation is made in respect of these assets. When an item is sold, retired or removed from service, the cost and related accumulated depreciation is relieved, and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is recognized in income. Construction-in-process assets are stated at cost, which includes the cost of construction and other direct costs attributable to the construction. Construction-in- process assets are not depreciated until such time as the relevant assets are completed and put into use. Goodwill and IPR&D Assets Goodwill is the amount by which the purchase price of acquired net assets in a business combination exceeded the fair values of net identifiable assets on the date of acquisition. Acquired In-Process Research and Development (“IPR&D”) represents the fair value assigned to research and development assets that the Company acquires that have not been completed at the date of acquisition or are pending regulatory approval in certain jurisdictions. The value assigned to the acquired IPR&D is determined by estimating the costs to develop the acquired technology into commercially viable products, estimating the resulting revenue from the projects, and discounting the net cash flows to present value. Goodwill and IPR&D are not amortized but are evaluated for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The goodwill impairment assessment is performed by reporting unit. A reporting unit is the operating segment, or a business one level below that operating segment (the component level) if discrete financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by segment management. However, components are aggregated as a single reporting unit if they have similar economic characteristics. The Company has currently one reporting unit that it is has defined as its the legacy Anika reporting unit, which specializes in therapies based on its hyaluronic acid (“HA”) technology platform. It previously had a second reporting unit established in 2020 upon the acquisitions of Parcus Medical and Arthrosurface. Factors that the Company considers important, on an overall company basis, that could trigger an impairment review include significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the Company’s use of the acquired assets or the strategy for its overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends, a significant decline in the Company’s stock price for a sustained period, or a reduction of its market capitalization relative to net book value. 64 Under U.S. GAAP, the Company has the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it is necessary to perform the impairment test. If the Company concludes, based on a qualitative assessment, it is not more likely than not that the Goodwill or the IPR&D asset is impaired, the Company is not required to perform the quantitative test. The Company has an unconditional option to bypass the qualitative assessment in any period and proceed directly to the quantitative impairment test. To conduct quantitative impairment tests of goodwill, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, the Company records an impairment loss to the extent that the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, not to exceed the recorded amount of goodwill. The Company performed a qualitative annual assessment for impairment of the remaining goodwill with respect to legacy Anika reporting unit as of November 30, 2024, including consideration of (i) general macroeconomic factors, (ii) industry and market conditions, and (iii) the extent of the excess of the fair value over the carrying value indicated in prior impairment testing. Accordingly, the Company determined it was not more likely than not that the fair value of the legacy Anika reporting unit is less than its carrying amount and thus goodwill was not impaired as of November 30, 2024. To conduct impairment tests of IPR&D, the fair value of the IPR&D project is compared to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds its fair value, the Company records an impairment loss to the extent that the carrying value of the IPR&D project exceeds its fair value. The Company estimates the fair value for IPR&D using the income approach, which is based on the Multi-Period Excess Earnings Method (“MPEEM”). MPEEM measures economic benefit indirectly by calculating the income attributable to an asset after appropriate returns are paid to complementary assets used in conjunction with the subject asset to produce the earnings associated with the subject asset, commonly referred to as contributory asset charges. This approach incorporates significant estimates and assumptions related to the forecasted results including revenues, expenses, expected economic life of the asset, contributory asset charges and discount rates to estimate future cash flows. Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets primarily include property and equipment and intangible assets with finite lives. The Company’s intangible assets are comprised of purchased developed technologies, patents, trade names, customer relationships and distributor relationships. These intangible assets are carried at cost, net of accumulated amortization. Amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the intangible assets' useful lives, which range from approximately three to sixteen years. The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable or that the useful lives of those assets are no longer appropriate. Each impairment test is based on a comparison of the undiscounted cash flows to the recorded value of the asset. If impairment is indicated, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value based on a discounted cash flow analysis. In determining the useful lives of intangible assets, the Company considers the expected use of the assets and the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, anticipated technological advances, changes in surgical techniques, market influences and other economic factors. For technology-based intangible assets, the Company considers the expected life cycles of products, absent unforeseen technological advances, which incorporate the corresponding technology. Fair Value Measurements Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from selling an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of non-performance. The accounting standard establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are: • Level 1 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments traded in active markets. Level 1 instruments include securities traded on active exchange markets, such as the New York Stock Exchange. • Level 2 – Valuation is based upon inputs other than quoted prices, for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are directly observable in the market. 65 • Level 3 – Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company’s own estimates of assumptions market participants would use in pricing the instrument. The Company’s financial assets have been classified as Level 1. The Company’s financial assets (which include cash equivalents and investments) have been initially valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued, at the end of each reporting period, utilizing third-party pricing services. Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurement In measuring the impairment of intangible assets, the fair value of the Company's developed technology, customer relationship and tradename definite lived intangible assets within the Parcus and Arthrosurface reporting unit are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because of the use of unobservable inputs in measuring the estimated fair value. When performing a quantitative assessment for impairment of these definite lived intangible assets, the Company measures the amount of impairment by calculating the amount by which the carrying value of the definite lived intangible assets exceeds its estimated fair value (as discussed in Note 6 – Acquired Intangible Assets, Net). Research and Development Research and development costs consist primarily of salaries and related expenses for personnel, clinical trial expenses and fees paid to outside consultants and outside service providers. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Stock-Based Compensation The Company has stock-based compensation plans under which it grants various types of equity-based awards, the cost of which is based on the grant-date fair value of the underlying award and recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, which is generally the vesting period. For performance-equity awards with market-based conditions, compensation cost is measured at the date of the award and is recorded over the vesting period, regardless of the likelihood of achievement of the market-based performance criteria. For performance-based equity awards with financial and business milestone achievement targets, compensation cost is based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions. Changes to the probability assessment and the estimated shares expected to vest will result in adjustments to the related stock-based compensation expense that will be recorded in the period of the change. If the performance targets are not achieved, no compensation cost is recognized, and any previously recognized compensation cost is reversed. See Note 14, Equity Incentive Plan, for a description of the types of stock-based awards granted, the compensation expense related to such awards, and detail of equity-based awards outstanding. Income Taxes We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) and deferred tax liabilities (“DTLs”), for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, we determine DTAs and DTLs based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on DTAs and DTLs is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We recognize DTAs to the extent that we believe that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, carryback potential if permitted under the tax law, and results of recent operations. We record uncertain tax positions in accordance with Code 740, Income Taxes, on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) we determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than- not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. Interest and penalties associated with income tax filings are recorded in income tax expense. Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), which includes foreign currency translation adjustments. For the purposes of comprehensive income (loss) disclosures, the Company does not record tax provisions or benefits for the net changes in the foreign currency translation adjustment, as it intends to indefinitely reinvest undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiary. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is reported as a component of stockholders' equity. Contingencies In the normal course of business, the Company is involved from time-to-time in various legal proceedings and other matters such as contractual disputes, which are complex in nature and have outcomes that are difficult to predict. The Company records accruals for loss contingencies to the extent that it concludes that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the related loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company considers all relevant factors when making assessments regarding these contingencies. Although the outcomes of any potential legal proceedings are inherently difficult to predict, the Company does not expect the resolution of any potential legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. 66 Recent Issued Accounting Pronouncements In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, (“ASU 2023-09”), which is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. ASU 2023-09 intends to enhance the transparency as well as usefulness of income tax disclosures, primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adoption of this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, requiring public entities to disclose information about their reportable segments’ significant expenses and other segment items on an interim and annual basis. Public entities with a single reportable segment are required to apply the disclosure requirements in ASU 2023-07, as well as all existing segment disclosures and reconciliation requirements in ASC 280 in an interim and annual basis. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 during the year ended December 31, 2024. See Note 18 Segment Information in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for further detail. 3. Discontinued Operations In October 2024, the Company announced a strategic shift to concentrate on OA pain management and regenerative solutions. This strategic decision involved the sale of Arthrosurface Incorporated and the planned divestiture of Parcus Medical, LLC, both of which were acquired in early 2020. Arthrosurface On October 31, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), the Company completed the sale of all of the outstanding equity interests of Arthrosurface Incorporated, a Delaware corporation and former wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Arthrosurface”), which held the Company’s Arthrosurface business, to Phoenix Brio, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”), pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, Arthrosurface and Buyer (the “Arthrosurface Transaction”). As consideration for the Arthrosurface Transaction, at the closing, the Buyer delivered to the Company a ten-year non-interest-bearing promissory note in the principal amount of $7.0 million. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company is also eligible to receive: (i) for each calendar quarter, an amount equal to a percentage of the net sales (the “Revenue Payments”) for the sale of certain commercial and pipeline products during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the earlier of the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date or the date on which the Buy-Out Payment (as defined below) is paid to the Company; and (ii) a percentage of the gross proceeds with respect to the sale of certain commercial and pipeline products in a bona-fide arm’s length transaction with a third party that is not an affiliate of Buyer or the Company occurring within the first twenty four (24) months following the Closing Date. The Buyer can also elect to make a payment in an amount equal to the greater of (A) $14.0 million or (B) ten (10) times the Revenue Payments ((A) and (B) together, the “Buy-Out Payment”) paid to the Company during the last full calendar year prior to the consummation of a change of control transaction or Buyer’s written notice to the Company that it is electing to make the Buy-Out Payment. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the aggregate consideration is subject to customary post-closing adjustments. The Company valued the consideration with the sale of the Arthrosurface asset group to be $5.9 million and recorded as Notes Receivable on its balance sheet at December 31, 2024. As a result of the Arthrosurface Transaction, the Company tested the assets associated with the Arthrosurface asset group to determine if the carrying value of the assets at September 30, 2024 were fully recoverable. Given that the proceeds from the sale of the Arthrosurface assets group was less than the carrying value of its net assets, the Company recorded asset impairment charges totaling $27.4 million during the three-month period ended September 30, 2024 related to a write-down of its accounts receivable, inventories, property and equipment and intangible assets related to the Arthrosurface asset group. Parcus Medical On March 7, 2025, the Company completed the sale of all of the outstanding equity interests of Parcus Medical, LLC, (“Parcus Medical”) to Medacta Americas Manufacturing, Inc. (“Medacta”), pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Parcus Transaction”). As consideration for the Parcus Transaction, at closing, Medacta delivered to the Company a payment of $4.5 million in cash. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the aggregate consideration is subject to customary post-closing adjustments. As a result of the Parcus Transaction, the Company tested the assets associated with the Parcus Medical asset group to determine if the carrying value of the assets at December 31, 2024 were fully recoverable. Given that the proceeds from the sale of the Parcus Medical assets group was less than the carrying value of its net assets, the Company recorded asset impairment charges totaling $20.1 million during the three-month period ended December 31, 2024 related to a write-down of its inventories, property and equipment and intangible assets related to the Parcus Medical asset group. 67 The results of operations for Arthrosurface and Parcus are reported in income from discontinued operations within the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, and the related assets and liabilities are presented within assets and liabilities held-for-sale on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Revenue $ 39,495 $ 45,870 $ 42,409 Costs and expenses 87,469 134,353 65,479 Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes (47,974) (88,483) (23,070) Benefit from income taxes (417) (9,255) (6,011) Net loss from discontinued operations $ (47,557) $ (79,228) $ (17,059) The assets and liabilities reported as held-for-sale consist of the following (in thousands): As of December 31, 2024 2023 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,531 $ 4,127 Accounts receivable, net 3,285 9,601 Inventories 221 21,958 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 89 619 Property and equipment, net 1,134 8,753 Right-of-use assets 892 1,213 Other long-term assets - 12,947 Intangible assets, net - 2,050 Total assets held-for-sale $ 7,152 $ 61,268 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 797 $ 3,665 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 3,324 7,134 Lease liabilities 660 989 Total liabilities held-for-sale $ 4,781 $ 11,788 Selected financial information related to significant operating and investing cash flow items from discontinued operations are as follows (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Depreciation $ 1,874 $ 1,563 $ 1,853 Amortization of acquisition related intangible assets $ 559 $ 7,148 $ 7,147 Non-cash operating lease cost $ 322 $ 398 $ 375 Loss on impairment of long-lived assets $ 2,142 $ 62,190 $ - Stock-based compensation expense $ 972 $ 1,706 $ 704 Provision for inventory $ 42,013 $ 1,262 $ 435 Purchases of property and equipment $ 467 $ 3,310 $ 5,079 4. Fair Value Measurements There were no available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company’s investments, including cash equivalents, are all classified within Levels 1 of the fair value hierarchy and are valued based on quoted prices in active markets. For cash, current receivables, notes receivable, accounts payable, and accrued interest, the carrying amounts approximate fair value, because of the short maturity of these instruments, and therefore fair value information is not included in the table below. Contingent consideration related to the previously described business combinations are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as the determination of fair value uses considerable judgement and represents the Company’s best estimate of an amount that could be realized in a market exchange for the asset or liability. The classification of the Company’s cash equivalents and investments within the fair value hierarchy is as follows: Active Markets Significant Other Significant for Identical Assets Observable Inputs Unobservable Inputs December 31, 2024 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Amortized Cost Cash equivalents: Money Market Funds $ 46,061 $ 46,061 $ - $ - $ 46,061 Active Markets Significant Other Significant for Identical Assets Observable Inputs Unobservable Inputs December 31, 2023 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Amortized Cost Cash equivalents: Money Market Funds $ 55,485 $ 55,485 $ - $ - $ 55,485 There were no transfers between fair value levels in 2024 or 2023. 68 5. Inventories Total inventories included in the balance sheet consist of the following: As of December 31, 2024 2023 Raw materials $ 13,180 $ 14,474 Work-in-process 7,001 7,503 Finished goods 8,761 7,712 Total $ 28,942 $ 29,689 Inventories $ 23,809 $ 24,428 Other long-term assets 5,133 5,261 Total $ 28,942 $ 29,689 Inventories are stated net of inventory reserves of approximately $3.9 million and $3.6 million, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. 6. Property and Equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost and consists of the following: December 31, 2024 2023 Equipment and software $ 41,390 $ 42,655 Furniture and fixtures 1,509 1,733 Leasehold improvements 36,340 34,654 Construction in progress 6,039 2,390 Subtotal 85,278 81,432 Less accumulated depreciation (46,284) (43,987) Total $ 38,994 $ 37,445 Depreciation expense was $5.0 million, $4.9 million, and $4.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. 7. Acquired Intangible Assets, Net Intangible assets consist of the following: Year Ended December 31, 2024 Gross Cost Plus: Additions Less: Accumulated Currency Translation Adjustment Less: Accumulated Amortization Net Book Value Weighted Average Useful Life (in Years) Developed technology $ 11,480 $ 600 $ (1,608) $ (9,667) $ 805 14 IPR&D 2,656 - (1,006) - 1,650 Indefinite Distributor relationships 4,700 - (415) (4,285) - 5 Patents 1,000 - (189) (776) 35 16 Total $ 19,836 $ 600 $ (3,218) $ (14,728) $ 2,490 11 Year Ended December 31, 2023 Gross Cost Less: Accumulated Currency Translation Adjustment Less: Accumulated Amortization Net Book Value Weighted Average Useful Life Developed technology $ 11,480 $ (1,608) $ (9,029) $ 843 15 IPR&D 2,656 (1,006) - 1,650 Indefinite Distributor relationships 4,700 (415) (4,285) - 5 Patents 1,000 (189) (728) 83 16 Total $ 19,836 $ (3,218) $ (14,042) $ 2,576 11 69 Total amortization expense with respect to the definite lived acquired intangible assets was $0.7 million, $0.6 million and $0.6 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company performed an assessment of its definite lived acquired intangible assets during the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The Company estimated the fair value of its definite lived acquired intangible assets using an income approach method of valuation, including a combination of the distributor method for the customer relationships intangible asset and the relief of royalty method for each of the developed technology and tradename intangible assets. These valuation approaches incorporate significant estimates and assumptions related to the forecasted results including revenues, expenses, expected economic life of the asset, royalty rates, after-tax royalty savings expected from ownership of the developed technology and tradename assets, contributory asset charges and discount rates to estimate future cash flows. While assumptions utilized are subject to a high degree of judgment and complexity, the Company made its best estimate of future cash flows under a high degree of economic uncertainty that existed as of December 31, 2024. In developing its assumptions, the Company also considered observed trends of its industry participants. The Company performed its annual assessment of the IPR&D intangible asset as of November 30, 2024. The Company estimated the fair value of the IPR&D intangible assets using the income approach which is based on the Multi-Period Excess Earnings Method (“MPEEM”). MPEEM measures economic benefit indirectly by calculating the income attributable to an asset after appropriate returns are paid to complementary assets used in conjunction with the subject asset to produce the earnings associated with the subject asset, commonly referred to as contributory asset charges. This approach incorporates significant estimates and assumptions related to the forecasted results including revenues, expenses, expected economic life of the asset, contributory asset charges and discount rates to estimate future cash flows. While assumptions utilized are subject to a high degree of judgment and complexity, the Company made its best estimate of future cash flows under a high degree of economic uncertainty that existed as of November 30, 2024. In developing its assumptions, the Company also considered observed trends of its industry participants. No impairment existed as the estimated fair value of the remaining IPR&D intangible asset was greater than its carrying value. 8. Goodwill The following table provides a roll forward of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023: As of December 31, 2024 2023 Balance, beginning January 1 $ 7,571 $ 7,339 Effect of foreign currency adjustments (446) 232 Balance, ending December 31 $ 7,125 $ 7,571 The goodwill balance at December 31, 2024 and 2023 was related to the legacy Anika reporting unit. 70 The Company estimated the fair value of its reporting units using a discounted cash flow method, which is based on the present value of projected cash flows and a terminal value, which represents the expected normalized cash flows of the reporting units beyond the cash flows from the discrete projection period. The Company determined that a discounted cash flow model provided the best approximation of fair value of the reporting units for the purpose of performing the impairment test. This approach incorporates significant estimates and assumptions related to the forecasted results including revenues, expenses, the achievement of certain cost synergies, terminal growth rates and discount rates to estimate future cash flows. While assumptions utilized are subject to a high degree of judgment and complexity, the Company made its best estimate of future cash flows under a high degree of economic uncertainty that existed as of November 30, 2024. In developing its assumptions, the Company also considered observed trends of its industry participants. For the legacy Anika reporting unit, the Company performed a qualitative assessment as of November 30, 2024. The results of the impairment test indicated that the estimated fair value of the legacy Anika reporting unit was greater than its carrying value, therefore the Company determined that was more likely than not that the fair value of the legacy Anika reporting unit was not impaired as of November 30, 2024. 9. Leases The Company leases its buildings and manufacturing facilities under operating leases. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had real estate leases in Bedford, Massachusetts, Sarasota, Florida, Warsaw, Indiana and Padova, Italy and Sarasota, Florida. In June 2022, the Company finalized a renewal option to extend the current term for its operating headquarters and manufacturing facility in Bedford through 2027. There are also lease renewal options into 2038. The Company leases office space in Padova, Italy. The current term of the Padova lease extends to 2032, with a right to terminate at the Company’s option in 2026 without penalty. The Company had two real estate leases in Sarasota, Florida that it uses for office space and manufacturing and warehouse facilities. In June 2022, the Company extended its current term on these leases through 2027. These leases were sold with the Parcus transaction in March 2025. The significant assumptions in recognizing the right-of-use asset and lease liability are as follows: Incremental borrowing rate. The Company derives its incremental borrowing rate from information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate represents a collateralized rate of interest the Company would have to pay to borrow over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. The Company’s lease agreements do not provide implicit rates. As the Company did not have any external borrowings at either the transition or subsequent renewal dates with comparable terms to its lease agreements, the Company estimated its incremental borrowing rate based on its credit quality, line of credit agreement and by comparing interest rates available in the market for similar borrowings, and adjusting this amount based on the impact of collateral over the term of the lease. The weighted average discount rate at December 31, 2024 was 3.5% for operating leases. 71 Lease term. The lease term begins at the lease commencement date and is determined on that date based on the non-cancelable term of the lease together with periods covered by an option to extend the lease if the Company is reasonably certain to exercise that option, or periods covered by an option to terminate the lease if the Company is reasonably certain not to exercise that option. The components of lease expense and other information for continued and discontinued operations are as follows: Years Ended December 31 2024 2023 2022 Operating lease expense $ 3,333 $ 3,320 $ 2,839 Short-term lease expense - - 17 Variable lease expense 497 425 413 Total lease expense $ 3,830 $ 3,745 $ 3,269 Years Ended December 31 2024 2023 Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (in years) Operating leases 13.2 13.9 Weighted Average Discount Rate Operating leases 3.5% 3.6% Other information Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 3,267 $ 3,239 Future commitments due under these lease agreements as of December 31, 2024 are as follows: Years ended December 31, Operating Leases 2025 $ 2,783 2026 2,468 2027 2,329 2028 2,329 2029 2,329 Thereafter 20,572 Present value adjustment (6,878) Present value of lease payments 25,932 Less current portion included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities (1,918) Total lease liabilities $ 24,014 10. Accrued Expenses Accrued expenses consist of the following: As of December 31, 2024 2023 Compensation and related expenses $ 6,828 $ 7,927 Professional fees 2,485 2,274 Operating lease liability- current 1,918 1,827 Share based compensation 1,213 - Clinical trial costs 295 460 Income taxes payable 63 1,240 Other 765 338 Total $ 13,567 $ 14,066 72 11. Revolving Credit Agreement On November 12, 2021, the Company, entered into a “Third Amendment to Credit Agreement” amending the existing revolving line of credit agreement dated October 24, 2017 with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swingline lender and issuer of letters of credit, for a $75.0 million senior revolving line of credit (the “Credit Agreement”). Subject to certain conditions, the Company may request up to an additional $75.0 million in commitments for a maximum aggregate commitment of $150.0 million, which requests must be approved by the Revolving Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement). Loans under the Credit Agreement generally bear interest at a rate equal to (a) the Bloomberg Short-Term Bank Yield Index, (“BSBY”), rate plus (b) an additional percentage that will range from 0.25% to 1.00%, based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio at the time of the borrowings. The Company is required to pay a commitment fee in an amount that is equal to 0.20% to 0.30% per annum, based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio, on the actual daily unused amount of the credit facility and that is due and payable quarterly in arrears. Loan origination costs are included as assets on the balance sheet and are being amortized over the five-year term of the Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement and the Company is in compliance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, including financial covenants, events of default, and indemnification provisions in favor of the Lenders. These include restrictive covenants that require the Company not to exceed certain maximum leverage and interest coverage ratios, limit its incurrence of liens and indebtedness, and its entry into certain merger and acquisition transactions or dispositions and place additional restrictions on other matters, all subject to certain exceptions. The Revolving Lenders has been granted a first priority lien and security interest in substantially all of the Company’s assets, except for certain intangible assets. 12. Commitments and Contingencies In certain of its contracts, the Company warrants to its customers that the products it manufactures conform to the product specifications as in effect at the time of delivery of the specific product. The Company may also warrant that the products it manufactures do not infringe, violate or breach any U.S. or international patent or intellectual property rights, trade secret, or other proprietary information of any third party. On occasion, the Company contractually indemnifies its customers against any and all losses arising out of, or in any way connected with, any claim or claims of breach of its warranties or any actual or alleged defect in any product caused by the negligent acts or omissions of the Company. The Company maintains a products liability insurance policy that limits its exposure to these risks. Based on the Company’s historical activity, in combination with its liability insurance coverage, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is immaterial. The Company had no accrued warranties at December 31, 2024 or 2023, respectively, and has no history of claims paid. The Company is also involved from time-to-time in various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Although the outcomes of these legal proceedings are inherently difficult to predict, the Company does not expect the resolution of these occasional legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. 13. Revenue and Geographic Information During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company changed its classification of revenue. The Company previously disclosed revenue in 3 categories: OA Pain Management, Joint Preservation and Restoration and Non-Orthopedic. As a result of a change in strategic focus made in 2024, revenue classification was delineated to provide a clear view to the Company’s value drivers. Revenue will be split between the Commercial Channel and the Original Equipment Manufacturer (“OEM”) Channel. In the Commercial Channel, the Company has full responsibility for sales, marketing, and pricing of products through its commercial leaders, direct sales representatives, and independent distributors. Revenue from our Regenerative Solutions and international OA Pain Management businesses is included in the Commercial Channel. In the OEM Channel, the Company is responsible for development and manufacturing of products sold to the Company’s OEM partners governed by long-term agreements, but the Company does not control sales, marketing, or pricing with end users. Revenue from the Company’s U.S. OA Pain Management business and the Non-Orthopedic business is now included in the OEM Channel. All other revenue is reported in the Commercial Channel. 73 Product revenue by product family is as follows: Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Revenue Percentage of Product Revenue Revenue Percentage of Product Revenue Revenue Percentage of Product Revenue OEM Channel $ 77,770 65% $ 84,645 70% $ 81,675 72% Commercial Channel 42,137 35% 36,147 30% 32,152 28% Total $ 119,907 100% $ 120,792 100% $ 113,827 100% Product revenue from the Company’s sole significant customer, J&J MedTech, as a percentage of the Company’s total product revenue was 57%, 62%, and 60% for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. Total revenue by geographic location based on the location of the customer in total and as a percentage of total revenue are as follows: Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Total Percentage of Total Percentage of Total Percentage of Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Geographic Location: United States $ 82,446 69% $ 86,911 72% $ 83,746 74% Europe 19,403 16% 17,313 14% 17,227 15% Other 18,058 15% 16,568 14% 12,854 11% Total $ 119,907 100% $ 120,792 100% $ 113,827 100% Net long-lived assets, consisting primarily of net property and equipment, are subject to geographic risks because they are generally difficult to move and to effectively utilize in another geographic area in a reasonable time period and because they are relatively illiquid. Net tangible long-lived assets by principal geographic areas are as follows: As of December 31, 2024 2023 United States $ 37,964 $ 36,324 Italy 1,001 1,075 United Kingdom 29 46 Total $ 38,994 $ 37,445 74 14. Equity Incentive Plan Equity Incentive Plan The Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) was approved by the Company’s stockholders on June 13, 2017 and subsequently amended on June 18, 2019, June 16, 2020 and June 16, 2021 and June 14, 2023. The 2017 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), performance restricted stock units (“PSUs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”), total shareholder return options (“TSRs”) and performance options that may be settled in cash, stock, or other property. In accordance with the 2017 Plan approved by the Company’s stockholders, including the amendments thereto, each share award other than stock options or SAR’s will reduce the number of total shares available for grant by two shares. Subject to adjustment for specified types of changes in the Company’s capitalization, no more than 4.6 million shares of common stock may be issued under the 2017 Plan. There are 1.0 million shares available for future grant at December 31, 2024 under the 2017 Plan. The Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”) was adopted by the Company’s board of directors on November 4, 2021 in which the Company reserved 125,000 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to equity-based awards granted under the Inducement Plan. Such awards may be granted only to an individual who was not previously the Company’s employee or director with the Company. The Inducement Plan provides for the grant of awards under terms substantially similar to the 2017 Plan (as amended). The Inducement Plan was amended in December 2023 to add 125,000 shares. There are 0.1 million shares available for future grant at December 31, 2024 under the Inducement Plan. The Company may satisfy the awards upon exercise, or upon fulfillment of the vesting requirements for other equity-based awards, with either newly issued shares or shares reacquired by the Company. Stock-based awards are granted with an exercise price equal to or greater than the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. Awards contain service conditions or service and performance conditions, and they generally become exercisable ratably over one to four years with a maximum contractual term of ten years. For the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, the tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation was $1.9 million and $2.6 million, respectively. A summary of the stock-based compensation in the Company’s statements of operations is as follows (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Cost of revenue $ 328 $ 575 $ 779 Research and development 1,612 1,934 1,563 Selling, general and administrative 10,218 11,028 11,269 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 12,158 $ 13,537 $ 13,611 For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, windfall (shortfall) tax expense of ($0.1) million, ($0.1) million and ($0.5) million, respectively, are associated with the stock-based compensation expense above. Stock Options Stock options are granted to purchase common shares at prices that are equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date the options are granted or, in the case of premium options, are granted with an exercise price at 110% of the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Options generally vest in equal annual installments over a period of three to four years and expire 10 years after the date of grant. The grant-date fair value of options is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. 75 The following summarizes the activity under the Company’s stock option plans: Number of Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) Outstanding as of December 31, 2023 1,812,729 $ 33.42 $ 127 Granted 547,450 $ 28.08 Exercised (3,556) $ 21.96 $ 14 Forfeited and canceled (267,583) $ 33.19 $ 30 Outstanding as of December 31, 2024 2,089,040 $ 32.07 7.2 Vested, December 31, 2024 1,267,919 $ 34.60 6.2 Vested or expected to vest, December 31, 2024 2,089,040 $ 32.07 7.2 The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised was immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company granted 547,450 stock options during the year ended December 31, 2024, of which 421,925 shares were premium-priced options. The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model to determine the fair value of options granted. The calculation of the fair value of stock options is affected by the stock price on the grant date, the expected volatility of the Company’s common stock over the expected term of the award, the expected life of the award, the risk-free interest rate and the dividend yield. The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes pricing model for options granted during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, along with the weighted-average grant-date fair values, were as follows: 2024 2023 2022 Risk-free interest rate 3.48% - 4.62% 3.52% - 4.64% 1.28% - 4.28% Expected stock price volatility 41.54% - 48.19% 48.19% - 49.44% 53.80% - 55.55% Expected life of options (in years) 4.5 4.5 4.5 Expected dividend yield 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Fair value per option $10.52 $11.45 $11.45 As of December 31, 2024, there was $5.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years. 76 Restricted Stock Units RSUs generally vest in equal annual installments over a three- or four-year periods. The grant-date fair value of RSUs is recognized as expense on a straight- line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The Company determines the fair value of restricted stock units based on the closing price of its common stock on the date of grant. RSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2024 is as follows: Number of Shares Weighted Average Fair Value Outstanding as of December 31, 2023 $ 771,358 $ 27.19 Granted 491,541 $ 26.62 Vested (311,441) $ 27.87 Forfeited and cancelled (114,896) $ 26.47 Outstanding as of December 31, 2024 $ 836,562 $ 26.70 The weighted-average grant-date fair value per share of RSUs granted was $26.62, $26.66 and $25.14 for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The total fair value of RSUs vested was $8.7 million, $6.9 million and $6.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, there was $5.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to time-based RSUs, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years. 77 15. Employee Benefit Plan The Company’s U.S. employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) savings plan. Employees may elect to contribute a percentage of their compensation to the plan, and the Company will make 140% matching contributions up to a limit of 5% of an employee's eligible compensation. Effective January 1, 2025, the Company's matching contributions became 100% up to a limit of 5% of an employee’s eligible compensation. In addition, the Company may make annual discretionary contributions. The Company made matching contributions of $2.6 million, $2.7 million, and $2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. 16. Share Repurchase Plan In May 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program for an aggregate purchase price of $40.0 million to occur as follows: (i) first $15.0 million was to be effected through a Rule 10b5-1 plan initiated prior to June 1, 2024 and to be effective through June 30, 2025, and (ii) the remaining amount to be purchased in the open market (the “2024 Share Repurchase Program”). In the event of positive “free cash flow” as defined in the 2024 Cooperation Agreement dated May 28, 2024, with Caligan Partners LP, Caligan Partners Master Fund LP and David Johnson, for the period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, the amount under the share repurchase program shall be increased by 50% of such positive amount and in no event would we be required to make any purchases in the event that our cash would be less than $45.0 million after taking into account the share repurchase and reasonably anticipated capital expenditures and restructuring costs. On May 28, 2024, the Company entered into a share repurchase agreement under a Rule 10b5-1 with Bank of America. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had repurchased 505,903 shares at a cost of $10.9 million, representing 27% of the then estimated total number of shares expected to be repurchased under the 2024 Share Repurchase Program. 17. Income Taxes Income Tax Expense The components of the Company’s income (loss) before income taxes and its provision for (benefit from) income taxes consist of the following: Years ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 (Loss) income before income taxes Domestic $ (4,078) $ 2,421 $ 3,990 Foreign 1,314 735 334 $ (2,764) $ 3,156 $ 4,324 Years ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Provision for (benefit from) income taxes: Current: Federal $ 4,044 $ 4,910 $ 3,558 State 1,370 457 551 Foreign 421 312 96 Total current 5,835 5,679 4,205 Deferred: Federal - 1,579 (904) State - (692) (402) Foreign 229 29 (775) Total deferred 229 916 (2,081) Total benefit from income taxes $ 6,064 $ 6,595 $ 2,124 78 Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following: December 31, 2024 2023 Deferred tax assets: Capital loss carryforward $ 20,714 $ - Capitalized research expenditures 12,241 8,417 Lease liability 6,555 7,074 Acquisition-related intangible asset 5,959 5,422 Impairment of assets 4,215 - Stock-based compensation expense 3,908 3,818 Inventory reserves 2,316 2,123 Accrued expenses and other 1,403 550 Compensation accrual 1,202 1,414 Net operating loss carry forwards 650 1,124 Foreign currency exchange 48 121 Gross deferred tax assets 59,211 30,063 Less: Valuation allowance (45,148) (13,754) Deferred tax assets $ 14,063 $ 16,309 December 31, 2024 2023 Deferred tax liabilities: Acquisition-related intangible asset $ (42) $ (288) Depreciation (6,552) (7,695) Right of use asset (6,292) (6,837) Deferred tax liabilities $ (12,886) $ (14,820) Net deferred tax assets $ 1,177 $ 1,489 As of December 31, 2024, the Company had no Federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards, including with the Arthrosurface asset group and a negligible amount of state net NOL carryforwards that will begin to expire in 2039. The Company also had NOL carryforwards in Italy of $2.7 million that do not expire but are limited to 80% of taxable income. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had no federal or state research and development tax credit carryforwards. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) requires taxpayers to capitalize and amortize research and experimental (“R&D”) starting in the year the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company will amortize these costs for tax purposes over 5 years if the R&D was performed in the United States and over 15 years if the R&D was performed outside the U.S. This change has resulted in the recognition of additional deferred tax assets and increased cash tax liabilities. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that it believes that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, carryback potential if permitted under the tax law, and results of recent operations. Based upon future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and projected future taxable income, the Company believes it is more likely than not it will realize its foreign deferred tax assets. The Company recorded a full valuation allowance on all deferred tax assets in the U.S. as it was determined they are more likely than not to be realizable as of both December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The Company intends to maintain a full valuation allowance until there is sufficient evidence to support release of all or a portion of the allowance. As of December 31, 2024, the Company continues to believe its foreign deferred tax assets are realizable based upon future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and projected future taxable income in the Company’s foreign jurisdictions. Undistributed earnings of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries amounted to approximately $0.6 million at December 31, 2024. The Company expects to be able to take a 100% dividend received deduction to offset any U.S. federal income tax liability on the undistributed earnings. Determination of the amount of unrecognized state and local deferred income tax liability is not practicable due to the complexities associated with its hypothetical calculation. 79 Effective Tax Rate The reconciliation between the U.S. federal statutory rate and the Company’s effective rate is summarized as follows: Years ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Statutory federal income tax rate 21.0% 21.0% 21.0% State tax expense, net of federal benefit (52.2%) 9.5% 13.0% Stock compensation (17.2%) 11.8% 18.4% Section 162(m) limitation (30.1%) 28.3% 35.4% Change in tax rates and state apportionment 10.4% -% (3.0%) Federal, state and foreign tax credits 22.5% (23.1%) (13.3%) Valuation allowance (157.3%) 173.0% -% Return to provision adjustments 5.5% (3.6%) (18.9%) Tax reserves (20.9%) -% -% Other permanent items (1.1%) (7.9%) (3.5%) Effective income tax rate (219.4%) 209.0% 49.1% Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes The Company has $0.6 million and $0 of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company does not anticipate experiencing any significant increase or decrease in its unrecognized tax benefits within the twelve months following December 31, 2024. The Company files income tax returns in the United States on a federal basis, in certain U.S. states, and in certain foreign jurisdictions. The associated tax filings remain subject to examination by applicable tax authorities for a certain length of time following the tax year to which those filings relate. With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2020. In September 2024, the Company was notified by the Italian tax authorities that it had selected the Company’s tax returns for its Italian subsidiary for 2021 for examination and they remain under review. 18. Earnings per Share (“EPS”) Basic EPS is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Unvested restricted shares, although legally issued and outstanding, are not considered outstanding for purposes of calculating basic EPS. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect, if any, of outstanding share-based awards using the treasury stock method. The following table provides share information used in the calculation of the Company's basic and diluted EPS (in thousands): Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Shares used in the calculation of basic EPS 14,721 14,656 14,561 Effect of dilutive securities: Share based awards - - 226 Diluted shares used in the calculation of EPS 14,721 14,656 14,787 The Company was in a loss position during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, therefore all potential common shares would have been anti- dilutive and accordingly were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS. 80 19. Segment Information Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision-maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company operates in one business segment. The Company’s CODM is its President and Chief Executive Officer, who reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis. The CODM’s financial review is focused on the consolidated financial results of the Company which is used as the basis for financial performance assessment and allocation of resources. The following table presents selected financial information with respect to the Company’s single operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands): For the Years Ended December 31, 2024 2023 2022 Revenue $ 119,907 $ 120,792 $ 113,827 Cost of revenue 43,909 38,260 40,607 Gross profit 75,998 82,532 73,220 Operating expenses: Research & development 25,544 21,763 18,321 Selling, general & administrative 55,555 59,925 51,229 Total operating expenses 81,099 81,688 69,550 (Loss) income from operations (5,101) 844 3,670 Interest and other income (expense), net 2,337 2,312 654 (Loss) income before income taxes (2,764) 3,156 4,324 Provision for (benefit from) for income taxes 6,064 6,595 2,124 (Loss) income from continuing operations (8,828) (3,439) 2,200 Loss from discontinued operations (47,557) (79,228) (17,059) Net loss $ (56,385) $ (82,667) $ (14,859) Total U.S revenues were $82.4 million, $86.9 million and $83.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. See Note 13 Revenue and Geographic Information for additional information about revenue by region. 81 ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None. ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer (our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively), evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of December 31, 2024 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file and submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. On an on-going basis, we review and document our disclosure controls and procedures, and our internal control over financial reporting, and we may from time to time making changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and ensuring that our systems evolve with our business. Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance, and it may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in its 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on its assessment and those criteria, our management believes that our company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included below in this Item 9A. Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting Except as noted above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. 82 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO. We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, of the Company and our report dated March 13, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements. Basis for Opinion The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP Boston, Massachusetts March 14, 2025 83 ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024, none of the Company’s directors or executive officers adopted or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of Company securities that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or any non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement. ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS Not applicable. 84 PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE The information required under this item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A, which proxy statement will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. We have adopted an Insider Trading Policy governing the purchase, sale and/or other dispositions of our securities by our directors, officers and employees and by us. A copy of the Insider Trading Policy is filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The information required under this item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A, which proxy statement will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS The information required under this item and Item 5 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Equity Compensation Plan Information” is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A, which proxy statement will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE The information required under this item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A, which proxy statement will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES The information required under this item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A, which proxy statement will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Our independent public accounting firm is Deloitte & Touche LLP, PCAOB Auditor ID 34. 85 PART IV ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES (a) Documents filed as part of Form 10-K. (1) Financial Statements Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 54 Consolidated Balance Sheets 56 Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income 57 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity 58 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 59 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 60 - 81 (2) Schedules Schedules have been omitted as all required information has been disclosed in the financial statements and related footnotes. (3) Exhibits Exhibit Number Description +2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 4, 2020, by and between Anika Therapeutics, Inc., Arthrosurface, Inc., Button Merger Sub, Inc. and Boston Millennia Partners Button Shareholder Representation, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on January 7, 2020) +2.2 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 4, 2020, by and between Anika Therapeutics, Inc., Parcus Medical, LLC, Sunshine Merger Sub, LLC and Philip Mundy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on January 7, 2020) 3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on June 6, 2018) 3.2 Bylaws of Anika Therapeutics, Inc., effective as of June 6, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8- K (File No. 001-14027) filed on June 6, 2018) 4.1 Description of Securities of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on March 16, 2023) 10.1a Lease, dated January 3, 2007, between Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Farley White Wiggins, LLC, relating to 32 Wiggins Avenue, Bedford, Massachusetts (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed by on January 10, 2007) 10.1b Amendment No. 1 to Lease, dated February 1, 2007, between Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Farley White Wiggins, LLC, relating to 32 Wiggins Avenue, Bedford, Massachusetts (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1A to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on February 24, 2017) 10.2a Translation of Lease Agreement, dated October 9, 2015, between Anika Therapeutics S.r.l. and Consorzio Zona Industriale E Porto Fluviale di Padova relating to Land Registry of the Municipality of Padova, Page 148, cadastral map 516 and 517 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on October 14, 2015) 10.2b Translation of Amendment No. 1 to Lease Agreement, dated February 2, 2017, between Anika Therapeutics S.r.l. and Consorzio Zona Industriale E Porto Fluviale di Padova relating to Land Registry of the Municipality of Padova, Page 148, cadastral map 516 and 517 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3A to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on February 24, 2017) 10.3a Lease Agreement, dated November 26, 2012, between High Properties and Parcus Medical LLC relating to 6423 Parkland Drive, Suites 101 and 102, Sarasota, FL (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3A to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on March 11, 2022) 10.3b Amendment #1 to the Lease, Renewal Amendment, dated January 4, 2018, between High Properties and Parcus Medical LLC relating to 6423 Parkland Drive, Suites 101 and 102, Sarasota, FL (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3B to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001- 14027) filed by the Registrant on March 11, 2022) 10.3c Lease Agreement, dated May 25, 2017, between High Properties and Parcus Medical, LLC relating to 6455 Parkland Drive, Suite 101, Sarasota, FL (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3C to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on March 11, 2022) 10.4a Credit Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2017, among Anika Therapeutics, Inc., certain subsidiaries of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. as are or may from time to time become parties to the Credit Agreement, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swingline lender and issuer of letters of credit, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on October 27, 2017) 10.4b Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2017, among Anika Therapeutics, Inc., certain subsidiaries of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. listed on the signature pages thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on October 27, 2017) 10.4c First Amendment effective August 13, 2019, with respect to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 24, 2017 and the Security and Pledge Agreement dated as of October 24, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on May 22, 2020) 86 10.4d Second Amendment effective May 14, 2020, with respect to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 24, 2017 and First Amendment to the Security and Pledge Agreement dated as of October 24, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14027) filed on May 22, 2020) 10.4e Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of November 12, 2021, by and among Anika Therapeutics, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender, and the other parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on November 15, 2021) *10.5 License Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2003, by and between Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Ortho Biotech Products, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 30, 2004) *10.6 License Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2011, by and between Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and DePuy Mitek, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on December 22, 2011) †10.7 Anika Therapeutics, Inc. Senior Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on February 6, 2008) †10.8 Anika Therapeutics, Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (restated as of December 22, 2023) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 15, 2024) †10.9a Second Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (adopted April 5, 2011) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on June 10, 2011) †10.9b Amendment to Second Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (adopted April 11, 2013) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on June 21, 2013) †10.9c Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under Second Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on October 5, 2004) †10.9d Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Non-Employee Directors under Second Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on October 5, 2004) †10.10a Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as amended effective June 14, 2023) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on June 21, 2023) †10.10b Form of Notice of Grant of Incentive Stock Option, including Terms and Conditions of Stock Option, granted under Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13D to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 5, 2021) †10.10c Form of Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock Option, including Terms and Conditions of Stock Option, granted under Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13E to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 5, 2021) †10.10d Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Award, including Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Award, granted under Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on June 19, 2017) †10.10e Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Units, including Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Units, granted under Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13G to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 5, 2021) †10.10f Form of Notice of Grant of Deferred Stock Awards Units, including Terms and Conditions of Deferred Stock Units, granted under Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13H to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 5, 2021) †10.10g Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (adopted March 17, 2021) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on June 22, 2021) †10.10h Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Inducement Plan (as amended on December 22, 2023) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Post- Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8 Registration Statement (File No. 333-276622) filed January 22, 2024) †10.10i Form of Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock Option, including Terms and Conditions of Stock Option, granted under Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Inducement Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10I to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 11, 2022) †10.10j Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Units Award, including Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Award, granted under Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Inducement Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10J to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001- 14027) filed on March 11, 2022) †10.10k Form of Notice of Grant of Deferred Stock Awards Units, including Terms and Conditions of Deferred Stock Units, granted under Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Inducement Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10K to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 11, 2022) †10.10l Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Units, including Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Units, granted under Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan †10.11 Employment Agreement, dated April 23, 2020, by and between Anika Therapeutics, Inc., and Dr. Cheryl R. Blanchard (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on April 29, 2020) †10.12 Executive Retention Agreement, dated August 10, 2020, by and between Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Michael Levitz (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 11, 2022) †10.13 Executive Retention Agreement, dated December 12, 2024, by and between Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and David Colleran †10.14 Executive Retention Agreement, dated September 27, 2021, by and between Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Anne Nunes (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 15, 2024) †10.15 Executive Retention Agreement, dated December 12, 2024, by and between Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Steve Griffin 10.17 Cooperation Agreement, dated May 28, 2024, by and among Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Caligan Partners LP, Caligan Partners Master Fund LP and David Johnson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on May 28, 2024) †10.18 Offer letter, dated May 2, 2024, by and among Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Stephen Griffin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on May 8, 2024) †10.19 Transitional Services and Separation Agreement, dated May 2, 2024, by and among Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and Michael Levitz (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14027) filed by the Registrant on May 8, 2024) 19 Restated Insider Trading Policy 21.1 List of Subsidiaries of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP 31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 31.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 **32.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 97 Anika Therapeutics, Inc. Compensation Recovery Policy adopted on November 27, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14027) filed on March 15, 2024) ***101 The following materials from the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021; and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) 87 + Portions of this exhibit have been redacted in compliance with Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2). The omitted information is not material and would likely cause competitive harm to the Company if publicly disclosed. † Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. * Certain portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The omitted portions have been filed separately with the Commission. ** The certification attached as Exhibit 32.1 that accompanies this Form 10-K is not deemed filed with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether made before or after the date of this Form 10-K, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing. *** Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is deemed not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections. ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY Not applicable. 88 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. Date: March 14, 2025 By: /s/ CHERYL BLANCHARD Cheryl R. Blanchard, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Signature Title Date /s/ CHERYL BLANCHARD President and Chief Executive Officer Cheryl R. Blanchard, Ph.D. (Principle Executive Officer) March 14, 2025 /s/ STEPHEN GRIFFIN Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Stephen Griffin (Principal Financial Officer) March 14, 2025 /s/ IAN MCLEOD Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer Ian McLeod (Principal Accounting Officer) March 14, 2025 /s/ JOHN B. HENNEMAN, III Director, Chairman of the Board March 14, 2025 John B. Henneman, III /s/ JOSEPH H. CAPPER Director March 14, 2025 Joseph H. Capper /s/ SHERYL L. CONLEY Director March 14, 2025 Sheryl L. Conley /s/ GARY P. FISCHETTI Director March 14, 2025 Gary P. Fischetti /s/ WILLIAM R. JELLISON Director March 14, 2025 William R. Jellison /s/ GLENN R. LARSEN, PH.D. Director March 14, 2025 Glenn R. Larsen, Ph.D. /s/ STEPHEN O. RICHARD Director March 14, 2025 Stephen O. Richard /s/ SUSAN L.N. VOGT Director March 14, 2025 Susan L.N. Vogt 89 Exhibit 10.10l NOTICE OF GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, Anika Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) hereby grants, pursuant to the provisions of the Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), to the Grantee designated in this Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Units (the “Notice of Grant”), the number of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Award”), subject to certain terms and conditions as outlined below in the Notice of Grant and the additional terms and conditions set forth in the attached Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Units, including the Appendix attached thereto (the “Terms and Conditions,” and together with the Notice of Grant, the “Award Agreement”). Grantee: Grant Date: Number of RSUs Granted: Definition of RSU: Each RSU shall entitle the Grantee to receive one Share or, subject to application of the Cash Cap (as defined in the Terms and Conditions), a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share at such future date or dates and subject to such terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement. Vesting Schedule: Subject to the provisions of the Terms and Conditions and other applicable sections of this Notice of Grant, the Award shall vest in substantially equal installments on the first, second, and third anniversary of the Grant Date, provided that Grantee remains a continuous Service Provider from the Grant Date until the date on which the Award is scheduled to vest. By electronically accepting the Award Agreement , the Grantee agrees that the Award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Award Agreement, as of the Grant Date. GRANTEE ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. Sign Name: Sign Name: Print Name: Print Name: Title: Notice of Grant - Page 1 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS 1. Grant of RSUs. (a) The Award granted to the Grantee and described in the Notice of Grant is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The terms and conditions of the Plan are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the Award Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan. Any capitalized term not otherwise defined in the Award Agreement shall have the definition set forth in the Plan. (b) The Committee has approved the grant to the Grantee of the Award, conditioned upon the Grantee’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement within 60 days after the Award Agreement is presented to the Grantee for review; if the Grantee does not accept the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement within 60 days after the Award Agreement is presented to the Grantee for review, the Grantee will automatically be deemed to accept the Award and such terms and conditions. (c) As of the Grant Date, the Company grants to the Grantee the number of RSUs set forth in the Notice of Grant, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Award Agreement. Each RSU shall entitle the Grantee to receive one Share or, subject to application of the Cash Cap (as defined below), a cash payment with a Fair Market Value equal to one Share, at such future date or dates and subject to such terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement. 2. Restrictions. (a) The Grantee shall have no rights or privileges of a Company stockholder as to the RSUs prior to settlement (to the extent settled in Shares) in accordance with Section 6 of these Terms and Conditions (“Settlement”), including no right to vote or receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the RSUs; in addition, the following provisions shall apply: (i) the Grantee shall not be entitled to delivery of a certificate or certificates for Shares in connection with the RSUs until Settlement in Shares (if at all), and upon the satisfaction of all other applicable conditions; (ii) none of the RSUs may be sold, transferred (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution), assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of prior to Settlement in Shares; and (iii) all of the RSUs shall be forfeited and all rights of the Grantee with respect to the RSUs shall terminate in their entirety on the terms and conditions set forth in Section 5 below. (b) Any attempt to dispose of RSUs or any interest in the RSUs in a manner contrary to the restrictions set forth in the Award Agreement shall be void and of no effect. (c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event the Company elects to settle any RSUs in the form of cash, in no event shall the amount paid in cash with respect to any RSU (calculated prior to any reduction for tax withholding or other deductions) exceed an amount equal to 3x the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the Grant Date (subject to equitable adjustment in the case of any stock split, reverse stock split or similar change in capitalization) (the “Cash Cap”); provided that, as of the final vesting date of this Award, the Grantee may receive an amount in cash that exceeds the Cash Cap (i) in the event the Fair Market Value as of the final vesting date exceeds the Fair Market Value on each prior vesting date and (ii) so long as the aggregate amount of cash paid to Grantee pursuant to this Award does not exceed the Aggregate Cash Cap. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Aggregate Cash Cap” shall mean an amount equal to 3x (A) the number of RSUs subject to this Award that were settled (or would be settled upon the final vesting date) in cash multiplied by (B) the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the Grant Date (subject to equitable adjustment in the case of any stock split, reverse stock split or similar change in capitalization). On or following a Change in Control, the Cash Cap shall not apply. Terms and Conditions - Page 1 3. Restricted Period and Vesting. The “Restricted Period” is the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the date the RSUs, or such applicable portion of the RSUs, are deemed vested under the schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant, including any applicable accelerated vesting provisions set forth herein. 4. Acceleration of Vesting under Certain Circumstances. The vesting of the Award shall not be accelerated under any circumstances, except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in a written agreement between the Grantee and the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that if, within 3 months prior to and in connection with a Change in Control, or 12 months following a Change in Control, the Grantee incurs a Separation from Service as a result of a termination initiated by the Company or an Affiliate without Cause, or by the Grantee for Good Reason, then 100% of the Shares shall immediately become vested prior to such termination (provided that if such termination occurs prior to such Change in Control, such Shares shall immediately become vested prior to such Change in Control). For this purpose, “Good Reason” means as such term (or word of like import) is expressly defined in a then-effective written agreement between the Grantee and the Company or such Affiliate, or in the absence of such then-effective written agreement and definition, means the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions unless consented to by the Grantee (and the Grantee shall be deemed to have consented to any such event or condition unless the Grantee provides written notice of the Grantee’s non- acquiescence within 30 days of becoming aware of such event or condition): (i) a change in the Grantee’s responsibilities or duties which represents a material and substantial diminution in the Grantee’s responsibilities or duties, as applicable; (ii) a material reduction in the Grantee’s base salary; provided that an across-the-board reduction in the salary level of substantially all other individuals in positions similar to the Grantee’s by the same percentage amount shall not constitute such a salary reduction; or (iii) requiring the Grantee to be based at any place outside a 50 mile radius from the Grantee’s job location or residence except for reasonably required travel on business. 5. Forfeiture. If, during the Restricted Period, (i) the Grantee incurs a Separation from Service, (ii) there occurs a material breach of the Award Agreement by the Grantee or (iii) the Grantee fails to meet the tax withholding obligations described in Section 7 below, all rights of the Grantee to the RSUs that have not vested in accordance with Sections 3 or 4 above shall terminate immediately and be forfeited in their entirety. 6. Settlement of RSUs. Delivery of Shares and/or a cash payment under the Award Agreement shall be subject to the following: (a) The Company shall deliver to the Grantee one Share for each RSU that has vested and not otherwise been forfeited within 30 days following the end of the applicable Restricted Period; provided that, in the sole discretion of the Company, in lieu of delivering one Share for each RSU, the Company may deliver a cash payment to the Grantee for each RSU in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the last day of the applicable Restricted Period (subject to reduction for tax withholding pursuant to Section 7 below and subject to reduction due to application of the Cash Cap); provided further, that the Company need not treat each vesting date or each RSU the same and may settle vested RSUs in a combination of Shares and cash in its sole discretion; (b) Any issuance of Shares pursuant to the Award Agreement may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any securities exchange or similar entity; and (c) In the event that a certificate for Shares is delivered to the Grantee in connection with the Award, such certificate shall bear the following legend: The ownership and transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the Anika Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan and a restricted stock unit award agreement entered into between the registered owner and Anika Therapeutics, Inc. Copies of such plan and agreement are on file in the executive offices of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. Terms and Conditions - Page 2 In addition, the stock certificate or certificates for any Shares shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Company may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Company may cause a legend or legends to be placed on such certificate or certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. 7. Withholding. (a) The Committee shall determine the amount of any withholding or other tax required by law to be withheld or paid by the Company with respect to any income recognized by the Grantee with respect to the Award. (b) The Grantee shall be required to meet any applicable tax withholding obligation in accordance with the tax withholding provisions of Section 17.3 of the Plan. The ultimate liability for all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Grantee (the “Tax-Related Items”) is and remains Grantee’s responsibility and may exceed the amount, if any, actually withheld by the Company or the Grantee’s employer (the “Employer”). Grantee further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of this Award, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or distribution of this Award, the issuance of shares of Stock upon vesting and distribution of this Award, the subsequent sale of shares of Stock acquired pursuant to such vesting and distribution or the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of this Award or any aspect of this Award to reduce or eliminate Grantee’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if Grantee is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction, Grantee acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction. (c) Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Grantee agrees to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or Grantee’s Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. To satisfy any withholding obligations of the Company and/or the Employer with respect to Tax-Related Items, Grantee authorizes the Company and/or the Employer, or their respective agents, at their discretion, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by one (or a combination) of the following: (i) by direct payment to the Company or the Employer in cash of the amount of Tax-Related Items; (ii) by having withheld from the Award at the appropriate time that number of whole Shares whose Fair Market Value is equal to the amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the Award; and/or (iii) by withholding from wages or other cash compensation paid to Grantee by the Company or the Employer. For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any RSUs settled in cash, the amount of tax withholding shall be deducted and withheld from the cash payment otherwise payable to the Grantee upon settlement of such RSUs. Terms and Conditions - Page 3 8. Adjustment. Upon any event described in Section 15 of the Plan occurring after the Grant Date, the adjustment provisions as provided for under Section 15 of the Plan shall apply to the Award. 9. Bound by Plan and Committee Decisions. By accepting the Award, the Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee has received a copy of the Plan, has had an opportunity to review the Plan, and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The authority to manage and control the operation and administration of the Award Agreement and the Plan shall be vested in the Committee, and the Committee shall have all powers with respect to the Award Agreement as it has with respect to the Plan. Any interpretation of the Award Agreement or the Plan by the Committee and any decision made by the Committee with respect to the Award Agreement or the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons. 10. Grantee Representations. The Grantee hereby represents to the Company that the Grantee has read and fully understands the provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan and that the Grantee’s decision to participate in the Plan is completely voluntary. Further, the Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee is relying solely on his or her own advisors with respect to the tax consequences of the Award. 11. Regulatory Restrictions on the RSUs. Notwithstanding the other provisions of the Award Agreement, the Committee may impose such conditions, restrictions and limitations on the issuance of Common Stock with respect to the Award unless and until the Committee determines that such issuance complies with (a) any applicable registration requirements under the Securities Act or the Committee has determined that an exemption therefrom is available, (b) any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, (c) any applicable Company policy or administrative rules and (d) any other applicable provision of state, federal or foreign law, including foreign securities laws where applicable. 12. Miscellaneous. (a) Notices. Any notice that either party hereto may be required or permitted to give to the other shall be in writing and may be delivered personally, by intraoffice mail, by fax, by electronic mail or other electronic means, or via a postal service, postage prepaid, to such electronic mail or postal address and directed to such person as the Company may notify the Grantee from time to time; and to the Grantee at the Grantee’s electronic mail or postal address as shown on the records of the Company from time to time, or at such other electronic mail or postal address as the Grantee, by notice to the Company, may designate in writing from time to time. (b) Waiver. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of the Award Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach. (c) Entire Agreement. The Award Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Award. Except as otherwise stated herein, any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Award are superseded. (d) Binding Effect; Successors. The obligations and rights of the Company under the Award Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation, sale, or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company. The obligations and rights of the Grantee under the Award Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Grantee and the beneficiaries, executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the Grantee. (e) Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Consent to Venue; Service of Process. The Award Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof or principles of conflicts of laws of any other jurisdiction that could cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For purposes of resolving any dispute that arises directly or indirectly in connection with the Award Agreement, the Grantee, by virtue of receiving the Award, hereby submits and consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and agrees that any related litigation shall be conducted solely in the courts of Middlesex County, Massachusetts or the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, where the Award Agreement is made and to be performed, and no other courts. The Grantee may be served with process in any manner permitted under Massachusetts law, or by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. Terms and Conditions - Page 4 (f) Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of the Award Agreement. (g) Amendment. The Award Agreement may be amended at any time by the Committee, provided that no amendment may, without the consent of the Grantee, materially impair the Grantee’s rights with respect to the Award. (h) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Award Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of the Award Agreement, and each other provision of the Award Agreement shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law. (i) No Rights to Service. Nothing contained in the Award Agreement shall be construed as giving the Grantee any right to be retained, in any position, as a director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or its Affiliates, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company or its Affiliates, which are hereby expressly reserved, to remove, terminate or discharge the Grantee at any time for any reason whatsoever or for no reason, subject to the Company’s articles of incorporation, bylaws and other similar governing documents and applicable law. (j) Section 409A. It is intended that the Award Agreement and the Award will be exempt from (or in the alternative will comply with) Code Section 409A, and the Award Agreement shall be administered accordingly and interpreted and construed on a basis consistent with such intent. This Section 12(j) shall not be construed as a guarantee of any particular tax effect for the Grantee’s benefits under the Award Agreement and the Company does not guarantee that any such benefits will satisfy the provisions of Code Section 409A or any other provision of the Code. (k) Further Assurances. The Grantee agrees, upon demand of the Company or the Committee, to do all acts and execute, deliver and perform all additional documents, instruments and agreements that may be reasonably required by the Company or the Committee, as the case may be, to implement the provisions and purposes of the Award Agreement and the Plan. (l) Confidentiality. The Grantee agrees that the terms and conditions of the Award reflected in the Award Agreement are strictly confidential and, with the exception of the Grantee’s counsel, tax advisor, immediate family, or as required by applicable law, have not and shall not be disclosed, discussed or revealed to any other persons, entities or organizations, whether within or outside Company, without prior written approval of Company. The Grantee shall take all reasonable steps necessary to ensure that confidentiality is maintained by any of the individuals or entities referenced above to whom disclosure is authorized. Terms and Conditions - Page 5 (m) Nature of Award. In accepting this Award, Grantee acknowledges, understands and agrees that: (i) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature, and the Company may amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan; (ii) the grant of this Award is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Awards or benefits in lieu of Awards, even if Awards have been granted in the past; (iii) all decisions with respect to future Awards or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (iv) the Award Agreement does not give Grantee the right to remain retained or employed by the Company and/or Employer (or any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in any capacity; (v) except as otherwise provided in a separate agreement between Grantee and the Company and/or Employer (or any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates), the Company and/or Employer reserve the right to terminate the Grantee’s employment or other service at any time and for any reason, in accordance with applicable laws; (vi) if Grantee is not a Service Provider to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, this Award does not establish an employment or other Service Provider relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate; (vii) Grantee is voluntarily participating in the Plan; (viii) this Award and shares of Common Stock subject to this Award, and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation; (ix) this Award and shares of Common Stock subject to this Award, and the income from and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of, without limitation, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar mandatory payments; (x) the future value of the Shares subject to this Award is unknown, indeterminable, and cannot be predicted with certainty; (xi) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from the forfeiture of this Award resulting from a Separation from Service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment or other laws in the jurisdiction where Grantee is employed or otherwise rendering services, or the terms of Grantee’s employment or service agreement, if any); (xii) unless otherwise agreed with the Company, this Award and Shares acquired under the Plan, and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, any service Grantee may provide as a director for any Subsidiary or Affiliate; (xiii) unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Company in its discretion, this Award and the benefits evidenced by the Award Agreement do not create any entitlement to have this Award transferred to, or assumed by, another company, nor to be exchanged, cashed out or substituted for, in connection with any corporate transaction affecting the Shares; and (xiv) the following provisions shall be applicable only to employees outside the U.S.: (a) this Award and Shares subject to this Award, and the income from and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for any purpose; and (b) neither the Company, the Employer, nor any other Subsidiary or Affiliate shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Grantee’s local currency and the United States Dollar that may affect the value of this Award or of any amounts due to Grantee pursuant to the vesting or Settlement of this Award or the subsequent sale of Shares acquired upon Settlement of this Award. (n) Clawback. This Award is subject to clawback, cancellation, recoupment, rescission, payback, reduction or other similar action in accordance with the terms of any Company clawback Policy or any applicable law related to such actions, as may be in effect from time to time. Grantee’s acceptance of this Award shall be deemed to constitute Grantee’s acknowledgement of and consent to the Company’s application, implementation and enforcement of any applicable Policy that may apply to the Grantee, whether adopted prior to or following the Grant Date, and any provision of applicable law relating to clawback, cancellation, recoupment, rescission, payback or reduction of compensation, and Grantee’s agreement that the Company may take such actions as may be necessary to effectuate any such policy or applicable law, without further consideration or action. (o) No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding participation in the Plan, or the acquisition or sale of Shares. Grantee should consult with Grantee’s own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan. (p) Data Privacy. Grantee’s personal information will be processed in accordance with the Company’s privacy policy previously given to and acknowledged by the Grantee. Grantee may obtain a copy of such policy at no cost by contacting Grantee’s local human resources department. Terms and Conditions - Page 6 (i) Data Collection and Usage. The Company and any Subsidiaries or Affiliates, including the Employer, may collect, process and use certain personal information about Grantee, including, but not limited to, Grantee’s name, home address and telephone number, email address, date of birth, social security, social insurance, passport or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, details of all awards or any other entitlement to Shares or equivalent benefits awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Grantee’s favor (“Data”), for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. The legal basis, where required, for the processing of Data by the Company and the third-party service providers described below is the necessity of the data processing for the Company to perform its contractual obligations under the Award Agreement and the Company’s legitimate business interest of managing the Plan and generally administering the Awards. (ii) Plan Administration Service Providers. The Company transfers Data to Solium Capital LLC (“Solium”), an independent service provider based in the United States, which assists the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. Grantee acknowledges and understands that Solium will open an account for Grantee to receive and trade Shares acquired under the Plan and that Grantee will be asked to agree on separate terms and data processing practices with Solium, with such agreement being a condition to the ability to participate in the Plan. The legal basis for the transfer of Data by the Company to Solium is its necessity to perform a contract between the Company and Solium concluded in the interest of Grantee. As a result, in the absence of appropriate safeguards such as standard data protection clauses, the processing of Data in the United States or, as the case may be, other countries, may not be subject to substantive data processing principles or supervision by data protection authorities. In addition, Grantee may not have enforceable rights regarding the processing of Data in such countries. (iii) International Data Transfers. The Company and its service providers that manage and administer the Awards are based in the United States: this Award derives from the Company, incorporated in the state of Delaware, United States and the Plan, governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Therefore, in order for the Company to perform its contractual obligations under the Award Agreement, Data will be transferred to the United States. The Company’s legal basis, where required, for the transfer of Data is its necessity in order to perform its contractual obligations under the Award Agreement. (iv) Data Retention. The Company will hold and use Data only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Grantee’s participation in the Plan, or as required to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including under tax and securities laws. (v) Voluntariness and Consequences of Consent Denial or Withdrawal. Participation in the Plan is voluntary and Grantee is providing consents, where applicable, on a purely voluntary basis. Grantee understands that Grantee may withdraw his/her consent at any time with future effect for any or no reason. If Grantee does not consent, or if Grantee later seeks to revoke consent, Grantee’s salary from or employment and career with the Employer will not be affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing consent is that the Company would not be able to grant Awards or other equity awards to Grantee or administer or maintain Grantee’s participation in the Plan. (vi) Data Subject Rights. Grantee may have a number of rights under data privacy laws in Grantee’s jurisdiction. Depending on where Grantee is based, such rights may include the right to (a) request access or copies of Data the Company processes, (b) rectification of incorrect Data, (c) deletion of Data, (d) restrictions on processing of Data, (e) portability of Data, (f) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Grantee’s jurisdiction, and/or (g) receive a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of Data. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Grantee can contact his/her local human resources representative. (vii) Alternative Basis for Data Processing/Transfer. Grantee understands that in the future, the Company may rely on a different legal basis for the processing and/or transfer of Data and/or request that Grantee provides another data privacy consent form. Upon request of the Company or the Employer, Grantee agrees to provide an executed data privacy consent form (or any other agreements or consents) that the Company and/or the Employer may deem necessary to obtain from Grantee for the purpose of administering Grantee’s participation in the Plan in compliance with the data privacy laws in Grantee’s country, either now or in the future. Grantee understands and agrees that Grantee will not be able to participate in the Plan if he/she fails to provide any such consent or agreement requested by the Company and/or the Employer. (q) Electronic Delivery. By accepting this Award, Grantee consents to receive documents related to this Award by electronic delivery and, if requested, agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company. Grantee’s consent shall remain in effect throughout Grantee’s term as a Service Provider and thereafter until Grantee withdraws such consent in writing to the Company. Terms and Conditions - Page 7 APPENDIX TO THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT UNDER THE ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Appendix have the meanings set forth herein or in the Plan. Terms and Conditions This Appendix includes additional terms and conditions that govern this Award if Grantee resides and/or works in one of the countries listed herein. If Grantee is a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which he/she is currently residing and/or working, transfers employment and/or residency to another country after receiving the grant of this Award, or is considered a resident of another country for local law purposes, the Company shall, in its discretion, determine to what extent the terms and conditions herein will apply to Grantee. Notifications This Appendix also includes information regarding taxes and certain other issues of which Grantee should be aware with respect to participation in the Plan. The information is based on the securities, exchange control, income tax and other laws in effect in the respective countries as of January 2021. Such laws are often complex and change frequently. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that Grantee not rely on the information herein as the only source of information relating to the consequences of participation in the Plan because the information may be out of date at the time Grantee vests in this Award, upon Settlement, or when Grantee sells Shares acquired under the Award. In addition, the information contained herein is general in nature and may not apply to Grantee’s particular situation, and the Company is not in a position to assure Grantee of any particular result. Accordingly, Grantee is advised to seek appropriate professional advice as to how the relevant laws in Grantee’s country of residence may apply to his/her personal situation. If Grantee is a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which Grantee is currently residing and/or working, transfers employment and/or residency to another country after the grant of this Award, or Grantee is considered a resident of another country for local law purposes, the information contained herein may not be applicable to Grantee in the same manner. Grantee is advised to consult his/her personal advisor to determine the extent to which the notifications apply to Grantee’s specific situation. Terms and Conditions - Page 8 ITALY Terms and Conditions The following terms will supplement, amend or integrate for purposes of Italian laws the relevant sections of the Award Agreement. 1. Section 7 of the Award Agreement is replaced by the following wording: 7. Withholding. (a) The Committee shall determine the amount of any withholding or other tax required by Italian law to be withheld or paid by the Company with respect to any income recognized by the Grantee with respect to the Award. (b) Irrespective of the above, the Grantee shall be required to meet any applicable tax withholding obligation in accordance with the tax withholding provisions of Section 17.3 of the Plan. The ultimate liability for all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Grantee (the “Tax-Related Items”) is and remains Grantee’s responsibility and may exceed the amount, if any, actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Grantee further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of this Award, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or distribution of this Award, the issuance of shares of Stock upon vesting and distribution of this Award, the subsequent sale of shares of Stock acquired pursuant to such exercise or the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of this Award or any aspect of this Award to reduce or eliminate Grantee’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if Grantee is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction, Grantee acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction. (c) Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Grantee agrees to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or Grantee’s Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. To satisfy any withholding obligations of the Company and/or the Employer with respect to Tax-Related Items, Grantee authorizes the Company and/or the Employer, or their respective agents, at their discretion, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by one (or a combination) of the following: (i) by direct payment to the Company or the Employer of the amount of Tax-Related Items through a wire transfer bank payment; (ii) by having withheld from the Award at the appropriate time that number of whole Shares whose Fair Market Value is equal to the amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the Award; and/or (iii) [intentionally left blank]; If the Grantee is an Italian tax resident who, at any time during the fiscal year, holds foreign financial assets (including cash and shares) which may generate taxable income in Italy, the Grantee is required to report such assets on his or her annual tax return for the year during which the assets are held, or on a special form if no tax return is due. These reporting obligations also apply if the Grantee is the beneficial owner of foreign financial assets under Italian money laundering provisions. Terms and Conditions - Page 9 2. Section 9 of the Award Agreement is replaced by the following wording: 9. Bound by Plan and Committee Decisions. By accepting the Award, the Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee has received a copy of the Plan, the Award Agreement and the Appendix, has had an opportunity to review the Plan, the Award Agreement and the Appendix and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Award Agreement and the Appendix. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The authority to manage and control the operation and administration of the Award Agreement and the Plan shall be vested in the Committee, and the Committee shall have all powers with respect to the Award Agreement as it has with respect to the Plan. Any interpretation of the Award Agreement or the Plan by the Committee and any decision made by the Committee with respect to the Award Agreement or the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons. 3. Section 10 of the Award Agreement is replaced by the following wording: 10. Grantee Representations. The Grantee hereby represents to the Company that the Grantee has read and fully understands the provisions of the Award Agreement including the Appendix and the Plan and that the Grantee’s decision to participate in the Plan is completely voluntary. Further, the Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee is relying solely on his or her own advisors with respect to the tax consequences of the Award. 4. Section 12, letter (c), of the Award Agreement is entirely deleted and replaced by the following wording: (c) Entire Agreement. The Award Agreement including the Appendix and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Award. Except as otherwise stated herein, any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Award are superseded. 5. Section 12, letter (e), of the Award Agreement shall be interpreted to allow any dispute arising with respect to the Award Agreement to be referred for resolution to Italian courts of competent jurisdiction pursuant to Italian rules of civil procedure. In addition, Italian mandatory labor laws shall apply and, in case of contrast, prevail over any law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 6. Section 12, letter (m), numbers (ix) and (xvi), of the Award Agreement shall be construed and interpreted so as to allow the application of article 2120, para. 2, of the Italian Civil Code to assess whether any income arising from the Award Agreement takes part in the formation of the income base for computation of the severance payment due to employees under Italian law. Terms and Conditions - Page 10 UNITED KINGDOM Terms and Conditions WITHHOLDING. The following supplements the “Withholding” section of the Award Agreement: Without limitation to the “Withholding” section of the Award Agreement, Grantee agrees that Grantee is liable for all Tax-Related Items and hereby covenants to pay all such Tax-Related Items, as and when requested by the Company or, if different, the Employer or by His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority). Grantee also agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified the Company and, if different, the Employer against any Tax- Related Items that they are required to pay or withhold or have paid or will pay to HMRC (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority) on Grantee’s behalf. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Grantee is a director or executive officer of the Company (within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act), Grantee understands that Grantee may not be able to indemnify the Company or the Employer for the amount of any Tax-Related Items not collected from or paid by Grantee if the indemnification could be considered to be a loan. In this case, the Tax-Related Items not collected or paid by Grantee within 90 days of the end of the U.K. tax year in which an event giving rise to the taxable event occurs, may constitute an additional benefit to Grantee on which additional income tax and National Insurance contributions (“NICs”) may be payable. Grantee understands that Grantee will be responsible for reporting and paying any income tax due on this additional benefit directly to HMRC under the self-assessment regime and for paying to the Company and/or the Employer (as appropriate) the amount of any employee NICs due on this additional benefit, which may also be recovered from Grantee by any of the means referred to in the “Withholding” section of the Award Agreement. JOINT ELECTION. As a condition of participation in the Plan, Grantee agrees to accept any liability for secondary Class 1 NICs which may be payable by the Company and/or the Employer in connection with this Award, where legally permitted, and any event giving rise to Tax-Related Items related to Grantee’s participation in the Plan (the “Employer NICs”). Without prejudice to the foregoing, if requested to do so by the Employer or the Company, Grantee agrees to execute a joint election with the Company or the Employer, the form of such joint election having been approved formally by HMRC (the “Joint Election”), and any other required consent or election to accomplish the transfer of Employer NICs to Grantee. Grantee further agrees to execute such other joint elections as may be required between Grantee and any successor to the Company or the Employer. Grantee further agrees that the Company or the Employer may collect the Employer NICs from Grantee by any of the means set forth in the “Withholding” section of the Award Agreement. If, having been requested to enter into a Joint Election by the Employer or the Company, Grantee does not enter into the Joint Election or if approval of the Joint Election has been withdrawn by HMRC, the Company, in its sole discretion and without any liability to the Company or the Employer, may choose not to issue or deliver any Shares to Grantee upon vesting of this Award. S431 ELECTION. As a condition of participation in the Plan, the Grantee agrees to enter into, jointly with the Company and/or the Employer, a joint election within Section 431 of ITEPA in respect of computing any tax charge on the acquisition of “restricted securities” (as defined in Sections 423 and 424 of ITEPA), and that the Grantee will not revoke such election at any time (the “Section 431 Election”). The Section 431 Election will be to treat the Shares acquired pursuant to the vesting of the Award as if such Shares were not restricted securities (for U.K. tax purposes only). The Grantee must enter into the Section 431 Election within 14 days of such time as may be designated by the Company and/or the Employer. Terms and Conditions - Page 11 Exhibit 10.13 ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. EXECUTIVE RETENTION AGREEMENT Anika Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and David Colleran (the “Executive”) enter into this Executive Retention Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of December 12, 2024 (the “Effective Date”). WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide and the Executive desires to accept the severance protections provided herein in the event of the Executive’s involuntary or constructive termination, including in connection with a change in control of the Company. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows: 1. Key Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings: (a) “Cause” shall be defined as that term is defined in the Executive’s offer letter, employment agreement, or other similar agreement; or if there is no such definition, “Cause” means, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, any of the following: (i) substantial and continuing neglect or inattention to the Executive’s duties; (ii) willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with the performance of such duties; (iii) the commission of an act of embezzlement, fraud, or deliberate disregard of the rules or policies of the Company, which results in economic loss, damage, or injury to the Company; (iv) the unauthorized disclosure of any trade secret or confidential information of the Company or any third party who has a business relationship with the Company or the violation of any non-competition obligation to the Company; (v) the commission of an act that induces any customer or prospective customer of the Company to break a contract with the Company or to decline to do business with the Company; (vi) the commission of an act that induces any investor or prospective investor in any investment entity affiliated with or managed by the Company to break a contract with such investment entity or to decline to invest in such investment entity; (vii) the conviction of a felony involving any financial impropriety or which would materially interfere with the performance of services or otherwise be injurious to the Company; or (viii) the failure to perform in a material respect the Executive’s services or duties without proper cause. 1 (b) “Change in Control” shall mean any of the following: (i) any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or any trustee, fiduciary or other person or entity holding securities under any employee benefit plan or trust of the Company or any of its subsidiaries), together with all “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) of such person, shall become the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities having the right to vote in an election of the Board (“Voting Securities”) (in such case other than as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company); or (ii) the date a majority of the members of the Board is replaced during the longer of (a) any 12-month period or (b) the period covering two consecutive annual meetings of the Company’s stockholders, in either case by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board before the date of the appointment or election (other than an endorsement that occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consent by or on behalf of a person other than the Board); or (iii) the consummation of (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company where the stockholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate more than 50 percent of the voting shares of the Company issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any), or (B) any sale or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions contemplated or arranged by any party as a single plan) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (i) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Voting Securities outstanding, increases the proportionate number of Voting Securities beneficially owned by any person to more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that if any person referred to in this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting Securities (other than pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction or as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company) and immediately thereafter beneficially owns more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities, then a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (i). (c) “Disability” means inability to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s then existing position or positions under this Agreement with or without reasonable accommodation for a period of 180 days (which need not be consecutive) in any 12-month period. (d) “Good Reason” shall mean that the Executive has complied with the Good Reason Process (hereinafter defined) following the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a material diminution in the Executive’s responsibilities, authority or duties; (ii) a material diminution in the Executive’s annual base salary except for across-the-board salary reductions based on the Company’s financial performance similarly affecting all or substantially all senior management employees of the Company; (iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Executive provides services to the Company, which is a relocation of more than 75 miles from the Company’s Bedford, Massachusetts headquarters, not otherwise agreed between the Executive and the Company; or (iv) the material breach of this Agreement by the Company. 2 (e) “Good Reason Process” shall mean that (i) the Executive reasonably determines in good faith that a “Good Reason” condition has occurred; (ii) the Executive notifies the Company in writing of the occurrence of the Good Reason condition within 60 days of the occurrence of such condition; (iii) the Executive cooperates in good faith with the Company’s efforts, for a period not less than 30 days following such notice (the “Cure Period”), to remedy the condition; (iv) notwithstanding such efforts, the Good Reason condition continues to exist; and (v) the Executive terminates his employment within 60 days after the end of the Cure Period. If the Company cures the Good Reason condition during the Cure Period, Good Reason shall be deemed not to have occurred. (f) “Qualifying Termination” shall mean (i) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause within 3 months prior to or 12 months after a Change in Control, or (ii) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive for Good Reason within 12 months after a Change in Control. 2. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall take effect upon the Effective Date and shall expire upon the first to occur of (a) the expiration of the Term (as defined below) if a Change in Control has not occurred during the Term, (b) the date 12 months after the Change in Control Date, if the Executive is still employed by the Company as of such later date, or (c) the fulfillment by the Company of all of its obligations under Sections 4 and 5 if the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates during the Term or within 12 months following the Change in Control Date. “Term” shall mean the period commencing as of the Effective Date and continuing in effect through December 31 of the year of the Effective Date; provided, however, that commencing on January 1 of the year following the year of the Effective Date, and each January 1 thereafter, the Term shall be automatically extended for one additional year unless, not later than 90 days prior to the scheduled expiration of the Term (or any extension thereof), the Company shall have given the Executive written notice that the Term will not be extended. 3. Date of Termination. (a) Termination by Company for Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause at any time, subject to any applicable notice or cure requirement related to the specific event triggering Cause. (b) Termination Without Cause. Any termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment that does not constitute a termination for Cause or a termination due to the death or Disability of the Executive shall be deemed a termination without Cause. (c) Termination by Executive for Good Reason. In order to terminate employment for Good Reason, the Executive must comply with the Good Reason Process. (d) Notice of Termination. Except for termination due to the Executive’s death, any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or any such termination by the Executive shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice that indicated the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon. 3 (e) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean: (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, the date specified in the Notice of Termination (not earlier than the date the Notice of Termination is given); (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive without Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination (not earlier than the date the Notice of Termination is given); and (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive for Good Reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given after the end of the Cure Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive gives a Notice of Termination to the Company, the Company may unilaterally accelerate the Date of Termination and such acceleration shall not result in a termination by the Company for purposes of this Agreement. 4. Compensation Upon Termination. (a) Termination Generally. If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason during the Term, the Company shall pay or provide to the Executive (or to his authorized representative or estate) any earned but unpaid base salary, incentive compensation earned but not yet paid, unpaid expense reimbursements, accrued but unused vacation and any vested benefits the Executive may have under any employee benefit plan of the Company (the “Accrued Benefit”) within 30 days of the Executive’s Date of Termination. (b) Termination by Company Without Cause. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, then the Company shall, through the Date of Termination, pay the Executive his Accrued Benefit. If the Executive signs a general release of claims in a form and manner satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”) within 45 days of the receipt of the Release (which shall be provided no later than within two business days after the Date of Termination) and does not revoke such Release during the seven-day revocation period, (i) the Company shall pay the Executive an amount (the “Severance Amount”) equal to 12 months of the Executive’s annual base salary for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs. The Severance Amount shall be paid out in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s payroll practice over 12 months, beginning within 60 days after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, the Severance Amount commence to be paid in the second calendar year. Solely for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), each installment payment is considered a separate payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive breaches any of the obligations contained in Section 7 of this Agreement, all payments of the Severance Amount shall immediately cease; and (ii) subject to the Executive’s copayment of premium amounts at the active employees’ rate, the Executive may continue to participate in the Company’s group health, dental and vision program for 12 months; provided, however, that the continuation of health benefits under this Section shall reduce and count against the Executive’s rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”); provided, however, that if the Company determines necessary to avoid any adverse tax or other consequences for the Executive or the Company, the Company may instead pay to the Executive on a monthly basis during the period covered by this Section 4(b)(ii) an amount equal to the difference between the applicable COBRA premium and the applicable active employees’ rate for the coverage. 4 5. Change in Control. The provisions of this Section set forth certain terms of an agreement reached between the Executive and the Company regarding the Executive’s rights and obligations upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company. These provisions are intended to assure and encourage in advance the Executive’s continued attention and dedication to his assigned duties and his objectivity during the pendency and after the occurrence of any such event. These provisions shall apply in lieu of, and expressly supersede, the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding severance pay and benefits upon a termination of employment, if such termination of employment occurs within 3 months prior to or 12 months after the occurrence of the first event constituting a Change in Control, provided that such first event occurs during the Term. These provisions shall terminate and be of no further force or effect beginning 12 months after the occurrence of a Change in Control, in which case the provisions of Section 4(b) shall once again become applicable. (a) Change in Control Benefits. (i) If the Executive incurs a Qualifying Termination, then: (A) Subject to the signing of the Release by the Executive within 45 days of the receipt of the Release (which shall be provided no later than two business days after the Date of Termination) and not revoking the Release during the seven-day revocation period, the Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum in cash in an amount (the “Change in Control Severance Amount”) equal to 1.5 times the sum of (I) the Executive’s current annual base salary (or the Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, if higher) plus (II) the Executive’s target annual bonus for the current fiscal year (or if higher, the target annual bonus for the fiscal year immediately prior to the Change in Control). The Change in Control Severance Amount shall be paid to the Executive by the 60th day after the later of the date of the Change in Control and the Date of Termination; provided, however, that (x) if the Date of Termination occurs during the three-month period before the Change in Control, the payment under this Section 5(a)(i)(A) shall be reduced by any payments made under Section 4(b)(i) before the date of the Change in Control; and (y) to the extent that the Company determines necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, all or a portion of the payments under this Section 5(a)(i)(A) shall be made on the schedule set forth in Section 4(b)(i) rather than in a lump sum. (B) The Company shall pay to the Executive in a cash lump sum by the 60th day after the later of the date of the Change in Control and the Date of Termination, an amount equal to 18 times the excess of (I) the monthly premium payable by former employees for continued coverage under COBRA for the same level of coverage, including dependents, provided to the Executive under the Company’s group health benefit plans in which the Executive participates immediately prior to the Date of Termination over (II) the monthly premium paid by active employees for the same coverage immediately prior to the Notice of Termination. (ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any applicable option agreement or stock-based award agreement: 5 (A) [Reserved]; and (B) All stock options and other stock-based awards held by the Executive (I) if assumed or continued by the successor in the Change in Control (as set forth in Section 15.2.1(b) of the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or any similar provision in any predecessor or successor plan), and the Executive incurs a Qualifying Termination, shall only immediately accelerate and become fully exercisable or nonforfeitable upon the later of the Date of Termination or the effective date of the Change in Control, and (II) if not assumed or continued by the successor in the Change in Control, shall immediately accelerate and become fully vested, exercisable and nonforfeitable upon the effective date of the Change in Control. In that regard, for any such award that includes a performance-based vesting condition, vesting shall be based on the greater of assumed target performance or actual performance measured through the date of accelerated vesting. For the avoidance of any doubt, the provisions of this Section 5(a)(ii) shall supersede the provisions contained in the applicable award agreements, provided that the provisions of the award agreements will control to the extent such provisions are more favorable to the Executive. (b) Section 280G. If any of the payments or benefits received or to be received by the Executive (including, without limitation, any payment or benefits received in connection with a Change in Control or the Executive’s termination of employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement, or otherwise) (all such payments collectively referred to herein as the “280G Payments”) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would, but for this Section 6(b), be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then prior to making the 280G Payments, a calculation shall be made comparing (i) the Net Benefit (as defined below) to the Executive of the 280G Payments after payment of the Excise Tax to (ii) the Net Benefit to the Executive if the 280G Payments are limited to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the Excise Tax. Only if the amount calculated under (i) above is less than the amount under (ii) above will the 280G Payments be reduced to the minimum extent necessary to ensure that no portion of the 280G Payments is subject to the Excise Tax. “Net Benefit” shall mean the present value of the 280G Payments net of all federal, state, local, and foreign income, employment, and excise taxes. Any reduction made pursuant to this Section 5(b) shall be made in a manner determined by the Company that is consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. 6. Section 409A. (a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at the time of the Executive’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the Company determines that the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then to the extent any payment or benefit that the Executive becomes entitled to under this Agreement would be considered deferred compensation subject to the 20 percent additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A(a) of the Code as a result of the application of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such payment shall not be payable and such benefit shall not be provided until the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the Executive’s separation from service, or (ii) the Executive’s death. If any such delayed cash payment is otherwise payable on an installment basis, the first payment shall include a catch-up payment covering amounts that would otherwise have been paid during the six-month period but for the application of this provision, and the balance of the installments shall be payable in accordance with their original schedule. Any such delayed cash payment shall earn interest at an annual rate equal to the applicable federal short-term rate published by the Internal Revenue Service for the month in which the date of separation from service occurs, from such date of separation from service until the payment. 6 (b) The parties intend that this Agreement will be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder comply with Section 409A of the Code. The parties agree that this Agreement may be amended, as reasonably requested by either party, and as may be necessary to fully comply with Section 409A of the Code and all related rules and regulations in order to preserve the payments and benefits provided hereunder without additional cost to either party. (c) The determination of whether and when a separation from service has occurred shall be made in accordance with the presumptions set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). To the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, each reimbursement or in-kind benefit provided under the Agreement shall be provided in accordance with the following: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during each calendar year cannot affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year, (ii) any reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be paid to the Executive on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred, and (iii) any right to reimbursements or in-kind benefits under the Agreement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. (d) The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to the Executive or any other person if any provisions of this Agreement are determined to constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code but do not satisfy an exemption from, or the conditions of, such Section. 7. Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement supersedes the terms of the Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement between the Executive and the Company. Any and all obligations of the Company under this Agreement are contingent upon the Executive’s compliance with the Executive’s obligations under the Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement. 8. Arbitration of Disputes. Except for any request by the Company or by the Executive for temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce or enjoin any portion of the Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (which right shall remain in full force and effect following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company), in the event of any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company, or the termination of the Executive’s employment, including but not limited to, any claims arising out of M.G.L. ch.151B, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Small Necessities Leave Act, the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act (M.G.L. ch. 12), or any other federal, state, or local statute, regulation, or ordinance that provides protection against employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation; any claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act or M.G.L. ch. 149 or any other federal, state, or local statute, regulation, or ordinance that provides protection against wage and hour and/or wage payment violations; any claims under the federal or state equal pay act; any tort and/or privacy claims, including those under the Massachusetts Privacy Statute (M.G.L. ch. 214), that dispute, controversy, or claim shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be settled by binding arbitration before an arbitrator experienced in employment law. Said arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the Employment Dispute Resolution Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in Boston, Massachusetts, including, but not limited to, the rules and procedures applicable to the selection of arbitrators (or alternatively, in any other forum or in any other form agreed upon by the parties). In the event that any person or entity other than the Executive or Anika may be a party with regard to any such controversy or claim, such controversy or claim shall be submitted to arbitration subject to such other person or entity’s agreement. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. This provision shall be specifically enforceable. Arbitration as provided in this section shall be the exclusive, final, and binding remedy for any such dispute and will be used instead of any court action, which is hereby expressly waived. The Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of such arbitration proceeding. The Executive acknowledges and understands that by agreeing to arbitrate, the Executive is waiving any right to bring an action against the Company in a court of law, either state or federal, and the right to a trial by jury, except as otherwise expressively set forth in this Agreement. 7 9. Consent to Jurisdiction. To the extent that any court action is permitted consistent with or to enforce Section 8 of this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Accordingly, with respect to any such court action, the Executive (a) submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts; (b) consents to service of process; and (c) waives any other requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court, or otherwise) with respect to personal jurisdiction or service of process. 10. Integration; Non-Duplication. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, including any severance provisions under an offer letter, employment agreement, or other similar agreement. In no event shall the Executive be eligible for severance benefits under both this Agreement and any other agreement with the Company or under and statutory requirements under applicable law. 11. Withholding. All payments made by the Company to the Executive under this Agreement shall be net of any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company under applicable law. 12. Successor to Executive. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. In the event of the Executive’s death after his termination of employment but prior to the completion by the Company of all payments due him under this Agreement, the Company shall continue such payments to the Executive’s beneficiary designated in writing to the Company prior to his death (or to his estate, if the Executive fails to make such designation). 13. Enforceability. If any portion or provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any portion or provision of any section of this Agreement) shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 14. Waiver. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The failure of any party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach. 15. Notices. Any notices, requests, demands, and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered in person or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Executive at the last address the Executive has filed in writing with the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its main offices, attention of the Board. 8 16. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Executive and by a duly authorized representative of the Company. 17. Governing Law. This is a Massachusetts contract and shall be construed under and be governed in all respects by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles of such Commonwealth. With respect to any disputes concerning federal law, such disputes shall be determined in accordance with the law as it would be interpreted and applied by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. 18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be taken to be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same document. 19. Successor to Company. The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain an assumption of this Agreement at or prior to the effectiveness of any succession shall be a material breach of this Agreement. 20. Gender Neutral. Wherever used herein, a pronoun in the masculine gender shall be considered as including the feminine gender unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 21. At-Will Employment. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive’s employment remains at-will. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed otherwise. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereby execute this Agreement as of the date first written above. Anika Therapeutics, Inc. By: /s/ Cheryl Blanchard Name: Cheryl Blanchard Title: President & Chief Executive Officer David Colleran /s/ David Colleran 9 Exhibit 10.15 ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. EXECUTIVE RETENTION AGREEMENT Anika Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Steve Griffin (the “Executive”) enter into this Executive Retention Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of December 12, 2024 (the “Effective Date”). WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide and the Executive desires to accept the severance protections provided herein in the event of the Executive’s involuntary or constructive termination, including in connection with a change in control of the Company. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows: 1. Key Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings: (a) “Cause” shall be defined as that term is defined in the Executive’s offer letter, employment agreement, or other similar agreement; or if there is no such definition, “Cause” means, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, any of the following: (i) substantial and continuing neglect or inattention to the Executive’s duties; (ii) willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with the performance of such duties; (iii) the commission of an act of embezzlement, fraud, or deliberate disregard of the rules or policies of the Company, which results in economic loss, damage, or injury to the Company; (iv) the unauthorized disclosure of any trade secret or confidential information of the Company or any third party who has a business relationship with the Company or the violation of any non-competition obligation to the Company; (v) the commission of an act that induces any customer or prospective customer of the Company to break a contract with the Company or to decline to do business with the Company; (vi) the commission of an act that induces any investor or prospective investor in any investment entity affiliated with or managed by the Company to break a contract with such investment entity or to decline to invest in such investment entity; (vii) the conviction of a felony involving any financial impropriety or which would materially interfere with the performance of services or otherwise be injurious to the Company; or (viii) the failure to perform in a material respect the Executive’s services or duties without proper cause. 1 (b) “Change in Control” shall mean any of the following: (i) any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or any trustee, fiduciary or other person or entity holding securities under any employee benefit plan or trust of the Company or any of its subsidiaries), together with all “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) of such person, shall become the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities having the right to vote in an election of the Board (“Voting Securities”) (in such case other than as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company); or (ii) the date a majority of the members of the Board is replaced during the longer of (a) any 12-month period or (b) the period covering two consecutive annual meetings of the Company’s stockholders, in either case by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board before the date of the appointment or election (other than an endorsement that occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consent by or on behalf of a person other than the Board); or (iii) the consummation of (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company where the stockholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate more than 50 percent of the voting shares of the Company issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any), or (B) any sale or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions contemplated or arranged by any party as a single plan) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (i) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Voting Securities outstanding, increases the proportionate number of Voting Securities beneficially owned by any person to more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that if any person referred to in this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting Securities (other than pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction or as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company) and immediately thereafter beneficially owns more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities, then a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (i). (c) “Disability” means inability to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s then existing position or positions under this Agreement with or without reasonable accommodation for a period of 180 days (which need not be consecutive) in any 12-month period. (d) “Good Reason” shall mean that the Executive has complied with the Good Reason Process (hereinafter defined) following the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a material diminution in the Executive’s responsibilities, authority or duties; (ii) a material diminution in the Executive’s annual base salary except for across-the-board salary reductions based on the Company’s financial performance similarly affecting all or substantially all senior management employees of the Company; (iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Executive provides services to the Company, which is a relocation of more than 75 miles from the Company’s Bedford, Massachusetts headquarters, not otherwise agreed between the Executive and the Company; or (iv) the material breach of this Agreement by the Company. 2 (e) “Good Reason Process” shall mean that (i) the Executive reasonably determines in good faith that a “Good Reason” condition has occurred; (ii) the Executive notifies the Company in writing of the occurrence of the Good Reason condition within 60 days of the occurrence of such condition; (iii) the Executive cooperates in good faith with the Company’s efforts, for a period not less than 30 days following such notice (the “Cure Period”), to remedy the condition; (iv) notwithstanding such efforts, the Good Reason condition continues to exist; and (v) the Executive terminates his employment within 60 days after the end of the Cure Period. If the Company cures the Good Reason condition during the Cure Period, Good Reason shall be deemed not to have occurred. (f) “Qualifying Termination” shall mean (i) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause within 3 months prior to or 12 months after a Change in Control, or (ii) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive for Good Reason within 12 months after a Change in Control. 2. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall take effect upon the Effective Date and shall expire upon the first to occur of (a) the expiration of the Term (as defined below) if a Change in Control has not occurred during the Term, (b) the date 12 months after the Change in Control Date, if the Executive is still employed by the Company as of such later date, or (c) the fulfillment by the Company of all of its obligations under Sections 4 and 5 if the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates during the Term or within 12 months following the Change in Control Date. “Term” shall mean the period commencing as of the Effective Date and continuing in effect through December 31 of the year of the Effective Date; provided, however, that commencing on January 1 of the year following the year of the Effective Date, and each January 1 thereafter, the Term shall be automatically extended for one additional year unless, not later than 90 days prior to the scheduled expiration of the Term (or any extension thereof), the Company shall have given the Executive written notice that the Term will not be extended. 3. Date of Termination. (a) Termination by Company for Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause at any time, subject to any applicable notice or cure requirement related to the specific event triggering Cause. (b) Termination Without Cause. Any termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment that does not constitute a termination for Cause or a termination due to the death or Disability of the Executive shall be deemed a termination without Cause. (c) Termination by Executive for Good Reason. In order to terminate employment for Good Reason, the Executive must comply with the Good Reason Process. (d) Notice of Termination. Except for termination due to the Executive’s death, any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or any such termination by the Executive shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice that indicated the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon. 3 (e) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean: (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, the date specified in the Notice of Termination (not earlier than the date the Notice of Termination is given); (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive without Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination (not earlier than the date the Notice of Termination is given); and (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive for Good Reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given after the end of the Cure Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive gives a Notice of Termination to the Company, the Company may unilaterally accelerate the Date of Termination and such acceleration shall not result in a termination by the Company for purposes of this Agreement. 4. Compensation Upon Termination. (a) Termination Generally. If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason during the Term, the Company shall pay or provide to the Executive (or to his authorized representative or estate) any earned but unpaid base salary, incentive compensation earned but not yet paid, unpaid expense reimbursements, accrued but unused vacation and any vested benefits the Executive may have under any employee benefit plan of the Company (the “Accrued Benefit”) within 30 days of the Executive’s Date of Termination. (b) Termination by Company Without Cause. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, then the Company shall, through the Date of Termination, pay the Executive his Accrued Benefit. If the Executive signs a general release of claims in a form and manner satisfactory to the Company (the “Release”) within 45 days of the receipt of the Release (which shall be provided no later than within two business days after the Date of Termination) and does not revoke such Release during the seven-day revocation period, (i) the Company shall pay the Executive an amount (the “Severance Amount”) equal to 12 months of the Executive’s annual base salary for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs. The Severance Amount shall be paid out in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s payroll practice over 12 months, beginning within 60 days after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, the Severance Amount commence to be paid in the second calendar year. Solely for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), each installment payment is considered a separate payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive breaches any of the obligations contained in Section 7 of this Agreement, all payments of the Severance Amount shall immediately cease; and (ii) subject to the Executive’s copayment of premium amounts at the active employees’ rate, the Executive may continue to participate in the Company’s group health, dental and vision program for 12 months; provided, however, that the continuation of health benefits under this Section shall reduce and count against the Executive’s rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”); provided, however, that if the Company determines necessary to avoid any adverse tax or other consequences for the Executive or the Company, the Company may instead pay to the Executive on a monthly basis during the period covered by this Section 4(b)(ii) an amount equal to the difference between the applicable COBRA premium and the applicable active employees’ rate for the coverage. 4 5. Change in Control. The provisions of this Section set forth certain terms of an agreement reached between the Executive and the Company regarding the Executive’s rights and obligations upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company. These provisions are intended to assure and encourage in advance the Executive’s continued attention and dedication to his assigned duties and his objectivity during the pendency and after the occurrence of any such event. These provisions shall apply in lieu of, and expressly supersede, the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding severance pay and benefits upon a termination of employment, if such termination of employment occurs within 3 months prior to or 12 months after the occurrence of the first event constituting a Change in Control, provided that such first event occurs during the Term. These provisions shall terminate and be of no further force or effect beginning 12 months after the occurrence of a Change in Control, in which case the provisions of Section 4(b) shall once again become applicable. (a) Change in Control Benefits. (i) If the Executive incurs a Qualifying Termination, then: (A) Subject to the signing of the Release by the Executive within 45 days of the receipt of the Release (which shall be provided no later than two business days after the Date of Termination) and not revoking the Release during the seven-day revocation period, the Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum in cash in an amount (the “Change in Control Severance Amount”) equal to 1.5 times the sum of (I) the Executive’s current annual base salary (or the Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, if higher) plus (II) the Executive’s target annual bonus for the current fiscal year (or if higher, the target annual bonus for the fiscal year immediately prior to the Change in Control). The Change in Control Severance Amount shall be paid to the Executive by the 60th day after the later of the date of the Change in Control and the Date of Termination; provided, however, that (x) if the Date of Termination occurs during the three-month period before the Change in Control, the payment under this Section 5(a)(i)(A) shall be reduced by any payments made under Section 4(b)(i) before the date of the Change in Control; and (y) to the extent that the Company determines necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, all or a portion of the payments under this Section 5(a)(i)(A) shall be made on the schedule set forth in Section 4(b)(i) rather than in a lump sum. (B) The Company shall pay to the Executive in a cash lump sum by the 60th day after the later of the date of the Change in Control and the Date of Termination, an amount equal to 18 times the excess of (I) the monthly premium payable by former employees for continued coverage under COBRA for the same level of coverage, including dependents, provided to the Executive under the Company’s group health benefit plans in which the Executive participates immediately prior to the Date of Termination over (II) the monthly premium paid by active employees for the same coverage immediately prior to the Notice of Termination. (ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any applicable option agreement or stock-based award agreement: 5 (A) [Reserved]; and (B) All stock options and other stock-based awards held by the Executive (I) if assumed or continued by the successor in the Change in Control (as set forth in Section 15.2.1(b) of the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or any similar provision in any predecessor or successor plan), and the Executive incurs a Qualifying Termination, shall only immediately accelerate and become fully exercisable or nonforfeitable upon the later of the Date of Termination or the effective date of the Change in Control, and (II) if not assumed or continued by the successor in the Change in Control, shall immediately accelerate and become fully vested, exercisable and nonforfeitable upon the effective date of the Change in Control. In that regard, for any such award that includes a performance-based vesting condition, vesting shall be based on the greater of assumed target performance or actual performance measured through the date of accelerated vesting. For the avoidance of any doubt, the provisions of this Section 5(a)(ii) shall supersede the provisions contained in the applicable award agreements, provided that the provisions of the award agreements will control to the extent such provisions are more favorable to the Executive. (b) Section 280G. If any of the payments or benefits received or to be received by the Executive (including, without limitation, any payment or benefits received in connection with a Change in Control or the Executive’s termination of employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement, or otherwise) (all such payments collectively referred to herein as the “280G Payments”) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would, but for this Section 6(b), be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then prior to making the 280G Payments, a calculation shall be made comparing (i) the Net Benefit (as defined below) to the Executive of the 280G Payments after payment of the Excise Tax to (ii) the Net Benefit to the Executive if the 280G Payments are limited to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the Excise Tax. Only if the amount calculated under (i) above is less than the amount under (ii) above will the 280G Payments be reduced to the minimum extent necessary to ensure that no portion of the 280G Payments is subject to the Excise Tax. “Net Benefit” shall mean the present value of the 280G Payments net of all federal, state, local, and foreign income, employment, and excise taxes. Any reduction made pursuant to this Section 5(b) shall be made in a manner determined by the Company that is consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. 6. Section 409A. (a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at the time of the Executive’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the Company determines that the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then to the extent any payment or benefit that the Executive becomes entitled to under this Agreement would be considered deferred compensation subject to the 20 percent additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A(a) of the Code as a result of the application of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such payment shall not be payable and such benefit shall not be provided until the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the Executive’s separation from service, or (ii) the Executive’s death. If any such delayed cash payment is otherwise payable on an installment basis, the first payment shall include a catch-up payment covering amounts that would otherwise have been paid during the six-month period but for the application of this provision, and the balance of the installments shall be payable in accordance with their original schedule. Any such delayed cash payment shall earn interest at an annual rate equal to the applicable federal short-term rate published by the Internal Revenue Service for the month in which the date of separation from service occurs, from such date of separation from service until the payment. 6 (b) The parties intend that this Agreement will be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder comply with Section 409A of the Code. The parties agree that this Agreement may be amended, as reasonably requested by either party, and as may be necessary to fully comply with Section 409A of the Code and all related rules and regulations in order to preserve the payments and benefits provided hereunder without additional cost to either party. (c) The determination of whether and when a separation from service has occurred shall be made in accordance with the presumptions set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). To the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, each reimbursement or in-kind benefit provided under the Agreement shall be provided in accordance with the following: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during each calendar year cannot affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year, (ii) any reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be paid to the Executive on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred, and (iii) any right to reimbursements or in-kind benefits under the Agreement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. (d) The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to the Executive or any other person if any provisions of this Agreement are determined to constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code but do not satisfy an exemption from, or the conditions of, such Section. 7. Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement supersedes the terms of the Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement between the Executive and the Company. Any and all obligations of the Company under this Agreement are contingent upon the Executive’s compliance with the Executive’s obligations under the Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement. 8. Arbitration of Disputes. Except for any request by the Company or by the Executive for temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce or enjoin any portion of the Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (which right shall remain in full force and effect following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company), in the event of any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company, or the termination of the Executive’s employment, including but not limited to, any claims arising out of M.G.L. ch.151B, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Small Necessities Leave Act, the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act (M.G.L. ch. 12), or any other federal, state, or local statute, regulation, or ordinance that provides protection against employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation; any claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act or M.G.L. ch. 149 or any other federal, state, or local statute, regulation, or ordinance that provides protection against wage and hour and/or wage payment violations; any claims under the federal or state equal pay act; any tort and/or privacy claims, including those under the Massachusetts Privacy Statute (M.G.L. ch. 214), that dispute, controversy, or claim shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be settled by binding arbitration before an arbitrator experienced in employment law. Said arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the Employment Dispute Resolution Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in Boston, Massachusetts, including, but not limited to, the rules and procedures applicable to the selection of arbitrators (or alternatively, in any other forum or in any other form agreed upon by the parties). In the event that any person or entity other than the Executive or Anika may be a party with regard to any such controversy or claim, such controversy or claim shall be submitted to arbitration subject to such other person or entity’s agreement. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. This provision shall be specifically enforceable. Arbitration as provided in this section shall be the exclusive, final, and binding remedy for any such dispute and will be used instead of any court action, which is hereby expressly waived. The Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of such arbitration proceeding. The Executive acknowledges and understands that by agreeing to arbitrate, the Executive is waiving any right to bring an action against the Company in a court of law, either state or federal, and the right to a trial by jury, except as otherwise expressively set forth in this Agreement. 7 9. Consent to Jurisdiction. To the extent that any court action is permitted consistent with or to enforce Section 8 of this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Accordingly, with respect to any such court action, the Executive (a) submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts; (b) consents to service of process; and (c) waives any other requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court, or otherwise) with respect to personal jurisdiction or service of process. 10. Integration; Non-Duplication. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, including any severance provisions under an offer letter, employment agreement, or other similar agreement. In no event shall the Executive be eligible for severance benefits under both this Agreement and any other agreement with the Company or under and statutory requirements under applicable law. 11. Withholding. All payments made by the Company to the Executive under this Agreement shall be net of any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company under applicable law. 12. Successor to Executive. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. In the event of the Executive’s death after his termination of employment but prior to the completion by the Company of all payments due him under this Agreement, the Company shall continue such payments to the Executive’s beneficiary designated in writing to the Company prior to his death (or to his estate, if the Executive fails to make such designation). 13. Enforceability. If any portion or provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any portion or provision of any section of this Agreement) shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 14. Waiver. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The failure of any party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach. 15. Notices. Any notices, requests, demands, and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered in person or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Executive at the last address the Executive has filed in writing with the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its main offices, attention of the Board. 8 16. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Executive and by a duly authorized representative of the Company. 17. Governing Law. This is a Massachusetts contract and shall be construed under and be governed in all respects by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles of such Commonwealth. With respect to any disputes concerning federal law, such disputes shall be determined in accordance with the law as it would be interpreted and applied by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. 18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be taken to be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same document. 19. Successor to Company. The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain an assumption of this Agreement at or prior to the effectiveness of any succession shall be a material breach of this Agreement. 20. Gender Neutral. Wherever used herein, a pronoun in the masculine gender shall be considered as including the feminine gender unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 21. At-Will Employment. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive’s employment remains at-will. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed otherwise. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereby execute this Agreement as of the date first written above. ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. By: /s/ Cheryl Blanchard Name: Cheryl Blanchard Title: President & Chief Executive Officer STEVE GRIFFIN /s/ Steve Griffin 9 Exhibit 19 ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC. Restated Insider Trading Policy The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (including its subsidiaries, “Anika”) has approved this Restated Insider Trading Policy (this “Policy”). The objective of this Policy is to help prevent insider trading or allegations of insider trading, and to protect Anika’s reputation for integrity and ethical conduct. This Policy applies to all transactions, direct or indirect, in all of Anika’s securities, including, but not limited to, Anika’s common stock (including those shares of common stock that may be held in any Anika 401(k) retirement savings plan, pension plan, retirement plan, other similar plan or any such similar plan that Anika may adopt in the future), options to purchase common stock and any other type of securities that Anika may issue, such as, restricted stock awards, deferred stock awards, stock appreciation rights, preferred stock, convertible debentures, warrants and exchange-traded options or other derivative securities. LEGAL BACKGROUND Insider Trading: The prohibition against such trading generally is understood to prohibit (1) trading on the basis of material, non-public information (“MNPI”), (2) disclosing or “tipping” MNPI to others or recommending the purchase or sale of securities on the basis of MNPI or (3) assisting someone engaged in any of the above activities. Definitions: Material Information is generally deemed to be “material” if there is a substantial likelihood a “reasonable investor” would rely on it in deciding to purchase, sell, or hold a security to which the information relates. Stated another way, there must be a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would view the information as having significantly altered the “total mix” of information available about a particular investment or security. MNPI can encompass positive or negative information. As a practical matter, materiality often is determined after the fact, when it is known that someone has traded on the information and after the information itself has been made public and its effects upon the market are more certain. Information concerning any of the following subjects is the type of information that is often considered to be material information. These examples are not an exclusive listing, and they are solely meant to be illustrative of the types of information that may be considered MNPI: • financial results, including revenue and earnings, for the quarter-end or the year-end; • financial forecasts regarding future revenues; • potential mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other purchases and sales of companies and investments in companies; • significant changes in senior management; • the gain or loss of significant contracts or customers; • actual or threatened litigation or major developments in such litigation; • significant product developments; • significant developments regarding regulatory approval; • results of clinical trials; • statements by stock market analysts regarding Anika; • significant product pricing changes; • events regarding Anika securities (e.g. calls of securities for redemption, repurchase plans, changes to the rights of security holders, or public or private sales of additional securities); • contents of forthcoming publications that may affect the market price of securities, including statements by securities analysts related to such securities; and • any other facts that might cause Anika’s financial results to be substantially affected. Non-public Material information is “non-public” if it has not been widely disseminated to the public through major newswire services, national news services and financial news services. To show that “material” information is public, it generally is necessary to point to some fact that establishes that the information has become generally available, such as disclosure by the filing of a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or disclosure by release to a national business and financial wire service or a national newspaper. The information must not only be publicly disclosed, there must also be adequate time for the market as a whole to digest the information. For the purposes of this Policy, information will be considered public after the close of trading on the first full Trading Day following Anika’s widespread public release of the information. Trading Day For purposes of this Policy, a “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which the Nasdaq Stock Market is open for trading. Potential criminal and civil liability and/or disciplinary action: Under Section 32 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), individuals found liable for insider trading face penalties of up to three times the profit gained or loss avoided, a criminal fine of up to $5 million and up to twenty years in jail. In addition to these potential criminal and civil liabilities, in certain circumstances Anika may be able to recover all profits made by a Covered Person (as defined below) who traded illegally, plus collect other damages. Moreover, Anika Therapeutics, Inc., itself (and Section 16 Persons, as defined below) could face a civil penalty up to the greater of $1 million or three times the profit gained or loss avoided as a result of an individual’s violation and/or a criminal penalty of up to $25 million for failing to take steps to prevent insider trading. In addition to the civil or criminal penalties that may be imposed by others, violation of this Policy and its procedures may subject an individual to Anika-imposed discipline, including termination of employment. PROHIBITIONS FOR COVERED PERSONS Persons covered: The requirements of this section apply to “Covered Persons,” who shall consist of: • directors of Anika Therapeutics, Inc.; 2 • employees of Anika; consultants of Anika; • family members of, or others living in the same household as, any of the foregoing individuals who share the same address, or are financially dependent on, such individual; and • any entities that the above-listed individuals influence or control. No trading on MNPI: No Covered Person who is aware of MNPI concerning Anika or a third party with whom Anika does business, shall engage in any transaction in Anika’s or such third- party’s securities, including any offer to purchase or sell, during any period commencing with the date that he or she obtains such MNPI and ending after the close of trading on the first full Trading Day following the date of public disclosure of the MNPI. After separation from Anika, (1) any Restricted Covered Person (as defined below) will remain subject to this Policy for a period of three months following such separation, in the case of any Section 16 Person, or thirty days, in the case of any other Restricted Covered Person, and (2) any Covered Person who is in possession of MNPI as of the date of separation will be prohibited from trading in Anika securities until that information no longer constitutes MNPI because it is no longer material or has become public. The prohibition on purchases and sales of Anika securities while aware of MNPI does not apply to: • an “Exempt Transaction,” which shall mean: o an acquisition of Anika securities pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan operated by Anika under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; o an exercise of a stock option to acquire Anika securities, or a surrender of Anika securities to Anika in payment of the exercise price of such a stock option or in satisfaction of any tax withholding obligations arising from the exercise of such stock option or the vesting of restricted stock in accordance with Anika’s equity compensation plans; o an acquisition of Anika securities under a tax-qualified individual account plan or a 401(k) plan resulting from the Covered Person’s periodic contribution of money to the plan pursuant to his or her payroll deduction election (but excluding any acquisition or disposition of Anika securities under such plan pursuant to certain elections the Covered Person may make under the plan, including (1) an election to increase or decrease the percentage of the Covered Person’s periodic contributions that will be allocated to the Anika securities fund, (2) an election to make an intra-plan transfer of an existing account balance into or out of the Anika securities fund, (3) an election to borrow money against the Covered Person’s plan account if the loan will result in a liquidation of some or all of the Covered Person’s Anika securities fund); o a transaction with respect to Anika securities under a Qualified Plan or Excess Benefit Plan (as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act) that is exempt under paragraph (c) of such Rule; o a purchase of Anika securities from, or sale of Anika securities to, Anika; o an acquisition of Anika securities pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend or pro rata distribution to Anika securityholders; o an acquisition of Anika securities pursuant to a dividend or interest reinvestment plan satisfying the conditions of Rule 16a-11 under the Exchange Act; or o an acquisition or disposition of Anika securities pursuant to a domestic relations order, as defined in Section 414(p)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or 3 a transaction in accordance with an approved 10b5-1 Trading Plan, as that term is defined in Anika’s Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy. No tipping: No Covered Person shall disclose (“tip”) MNPI to any other person where such MNPI may be used by such person to his or her benefit by trading in the securities of the company to which such information relates, nor shall an employee make any recommendations or express any opinions as to trading in Anika securities to any other person on the basis of MNPI. No short sales: No Covered Person shall engage in the short sale of Anika securities. A short sale is a sale of securities not owned by the seller or, if owned, not delivered against such sale within 20 days thereafter (a “short against the box”). Short sales of Anika securities evidence an expectation on the part of the seller that the securities will decline in value, and, therefore, signal to the market that the seller has no confidence in Anika or its short-term prospects. In addition, short sales may reduce the seller's incentive to improve Anika’s performance. No investments in derivatives of Anika securities: No Covered Person shall invest in Anika-based derivative securities. “Derivative Securities” are options, warrants, stock appreciation rights or similar rights whose value is derived from the value of an equity security, such as Anika’s common stock. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, trading in Anikabased put or call option contracts, trading in straddles and the like. However, holding and exercising stock options, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights or other derivative securities granted under Anika’s equity compensation plans is not prohibited by this Policy. No hedging or pledging: No Covered Person shall hedge or pledge any Anika securities that the Covered Person holds directly. An exception to this prohibition may be granted where a person wishes to pledge Anika securities as collateral for a loan (not including margin debt) and clearly demonstrates the financial capacity to repay the loan without resort to the pledged securities. Any Covered Person who wishes to pledge Anika securities as collateral for a loan must submit a request for approval to the Compliance Officer at least two weeks prior to the proposed execution of documents evidencing the proposed pledge, except that any proposed pledge by the Compliance Officer shall be subject to approval by the Chief Financial Officer. No margin purchases: No Covered Person shall purchase Anika securities on margin. This means Covered Persons are prohibited from borrowing from a brokerage firm, bank or other entity in order to purchase Anika securities (other than in connection with “cashless” exercises of stock options under Anika’s equity compensation plans). Limitations on timing of gifts: No Covered Person shall give or make any other transfer of Anika securities without consideration (e.g., a gift) during a period when the Covered Person is not permitted to trade. 401(k) Plan: This Policy does not apply to purchases of Anika stock in its 401(k) plan resulting from periodic contributions of money pursuant to a payroll deduction election. The Policy does apply, however, to certain elections made under Anika’s 401(k) plan, including (1) an election to increase or decrease the percentage of periodic contributions that will be allocated to any Anika stock fund, (2) an election to make an intraplan transfer of an existing account balance into or out of any Anika stock fund, (3) an election to borrow money against a 401(k) plan account if the loan will result in a liquidation of some or all of any Anika stock fund balance and (4) an election to pre-pay a plan loan if the pre-payment will result in allocation of loan proceeds to any Anika stock fund. 4 PROHIBITIONS ON TRADING BY RESTRICTED COVERED PERSONS DURING BLACKOUT PERIODS Persons covered: The requirements of this section regarding prohibitions on trading apply to “Restricted Covered Persons,” who shall consist of: • directors of Anika Therapeutics, Inc.; • employees of Anika, who (1) hold a position at the vice president level or above or (2) are members of Anika’s accounting and finance or legal departments; • any other employees, or any consultants, of Anika who are identified as Restricted Covered Persons from time to time by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Compliance Officer in light of particular events or developments affecting Anika; • family members of, or others living in the same household as, any of the foregoing individuals who share the same address, or are financially dependent on, such individual; and • any entities that the above-listed individuals influence or control. Blackout Periods Except as set forth below under “Permitted transactions during Blackout Periods,” trading in Anika securities by any Restricted Covered Person is prohibited during each of the following periods (each a “Blackout Period”): • the period beginning fifteen calendar days prior to the end of each fiscal quarter and ending after the close of trading on the first full Trading Day after Anika’s quarterly earnings are released; • the period beginning at the time of any public earnings-related announcement or public announcement of a significant corporate transaction or event and ending after the close of trading on the first full Trading Day after such announcement; and • during such other periods as may be established from time to time by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Compliance Officer in light of particular events or developments affecting Anika. Permitted transactions during Blackout Periods Transactions in accordance with an approved Trading Plan are permitted during a Blackout Period. In addition, Exempt Transactions are permitted during a Blackout Period, provided that: • Anika securities acquired under an employee stock purchase plan operated by Anika may not be sold during a Blackout Period; • Anika securities acquired during a Blackout Period pursuant to exercises of stock options or surrendered to Anika in payment of the exercise price or in satisfaction of any tax withholding obligations arising from stock option exercises or the vesting of restricted stock in accordance with Anika’s equity compensation plans may not be sold (either outright or in connection with a “cashless” exercise transaction through a broker) during a Blackout Period; and 5 • acquisitions or dispositions of Anika stock under Anika’s 401(k) plan or other individual account plans may be made only pursuant to standing instructions not entered into or modified during a Blackout Period. PRE-CLEARANCE OF TRADING BY RESTRICTED COVERED PERSONS AND INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYEES Persons covered: The requirements of this section regarding pre-clearance of trading apply to (1) Restricted Covered Persons and (2) “International Employees,” who shall consist of employees of Anika who are based outside of the United States. Compliance Officer: The General Counsel has been designated as the Compliance Officer for the purpose of this Policy and shall review and either approve or prohibit all proposed trades by Restricted Covered Persons and International Employees, except that any proposed trades by the General Counsel shall be reviewed and either approved or prohibited by the Chief Financial Officer. Any Covered Person who is not a Restricted Covered Person or an International Employee is encouraged to consult with the Compliance Officer in connection with any questions such Covered Person may have regarding the trading of Anika securities in compliance with this Policy. The Compliance Officer may designate one or more individuals who may perform the Compliance Officer’s duties under this Policy. Pre-trade notification and approval: Except with respect to an Exempt Transaction or a transaction in accordance with an approved Trading Plan (see “Pre-execution Approval of Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans” below), no Restricted Covered Person or International Employee may trade in Anika securities unless and until: • at least two Trading Days in advance of any proposed trade, the Restricted Covered Person or International Employee has notified the Compliance Officer of the amount and nature of the proposed trade using the Stock Transaction Request form attached as Schedule A hereto or through an Equity Management System (as defined below); • the Restricted Covered Person or International Employee has certified to the Compliance Officer in writing or through an Equity Management System, prior to the proposed trade that (1) he or she is not in possession of MNPI and (2) with respect to a Restricted Covered Person, to his or her best knowledge, the proposed trade does not violate the trading restrictions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933; and • the Compliance Officer or his or her designee has approved the trade and has certified such approval in writing or through the Equity Management System (which certification may be made by digitally signed electronic mail or other electronic means). Any Restricted Covered Person or International Employee requesting approval as described above shall provide to the Compliance Officer any other documentation reasonably requested by the Compliance Officer in furtherance of the foregoing procedures. Any failure to provide such requested information will be grounds for denial of approval of a requested stock transaction by the Compliance Officer. 6 To the extent that Anika elects to utilize an online or web-based equity management system (“Equity Management System”), the Compliance Officer may direct Restricted Covered Persons and International Employees to use the Equity Management System’s stock transaction request procedures and may process the above described pre-trade notifications and approvals through the Equity Management System. Period to trade upon receipt of approval: After receiving written or electronic approval to engage in a trade issued by the Compliance Officer, a Restricted Covered Person or International Employee must complete the proposed trade within five Trading Days of receipt of approval, unless an exception is granted or the Restricted Covered Person or International Employee becomes aware of MNPI before the trade is executed, in which case the approval is void and the trade must not be completed. Transactions not effected within the time limit would be subject to approval again. If a Restricted Covered Person or International Employee seeks approval and such approval to engage in the transaction is denied, then he or she should refrain from initiating any transaction in Anika securities and should not inform any other person of the restriction. Post-trade notification: Restricted Covered Persons and International Employees are required to report to the Compliance Officer any transaction (including any transaction pursuant to an approved Trading Plan) in Anika securities no later than the end of the day on which the transaction occurs. Such report must include (1) the date of the transaction, (2) the quantity of shares, (3) the execution price, and (4) the broker-dealer through which the transaction was effected. This requirement may be satisfied by sending (or having the broker-dealer of such Restricted Covered Person or International Employee send) duplication confirmations of trades to the Compliance Officer on or before the required date. This requirement is in addition to any required notification that Anika receives from the broker-dealer who completes the trade. PRE-EXECUTION APPROVAL OF RULE 10B5-1 TRADING PLANS Anika has adopted a separate Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy that sets forth the requirements for putting in place a Trading Plan with respect to Anika’s securities. SECTION 16 REPORTS Persons covered: The following individuals (collectively, “Section 16 Persons”): • directors of Anika Therapeutics, Inc.; and • officers of Anika designated as “executive officers” of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. for SEC reporting purposes by the Board. Assistance: Anika shall provide reasonable assistance, as requested by any Section 16 Person, in connection with the filing of Forms 3, 4 and 5 under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. However, the ultimate responsibility, and liability, for timely filing remains with each Section 16 Person. 7 USE, DISCLOSURE AND PROTECTION OF MNPI Use and disclosure of MNPI: As described above, under no circumstances may a Covered Person use MNPI about Anika for his or her personal benefit. Moreover, except as specifically authorized or in the performance of regular corporate duties, under no circumstances may a Covered Person release to others information that might affect Anika securities. Therefore, it is important that a Covered Person not disclose MNPI about Anika to anyone, including other Covered Persons, unless the other Covered Person needs to know such information in order to fulfill his or her responsibilities with respect to Anika. Under no other circumstances should such information be disclosed to anyone, including family, relatives or business or social acquaintances. In maintaining the confidentiality of the information, the individual in possession of such information shall not affirm or deny statements made by others, either directly or through electronic means, if such affirmation or denial would result in the disclosure of MNPI. If a Covered Person has any doubt about whether certain information is non-public or material, such doubt should be resolved in favor of not communicating such information or trading without discussing with the Compliance Officer. Questions concerning what is or is not MNPI should be directed to the Compliance Officer, who may seek guidance from Anika’s legal counsel. MNPI regarding other companies: Whenever, during the course of the Covered Person’s service to or employment by Anika, the Covered Person becomes aware of MNPI about another company (1) with which Anika has an existing business relationship, including but not limited to, Anika's distributors, vendors, customers or suppliers or collaboration, marketing, research, development or licensing partners, or (2) with which Anika is in active discussions concerning a potential transaction or business relationship, the Covered Person may not trade in any securities of that company, give trading advice about that company, tip or disclose that information, pass it on to others or engage in any other action to take advantage of that information. If the Covered Person’s work regularly involves handling or discussing confidential information of companies in either of the foregoing categories, or if the Covered Person is not certain whether it is permissible to trade in the stock of another company, the person should consult with the Compliance Officer before trading in any of those company’s securities. Additionally, if the Covered Person believes it may be in possession of nonpublic information about Anika that could potentially have a material effect on the stock price of a company with which Anika does not have an existing business relationship or with which Anika is not discussing a potential transaction or business relationship, the Covered Person should exercise caution when trading in the securities of that company because the SEC has successfully brought an insider trading claim against an insider in those circumstances. Unauthorized disclosure of internal information: Unauthorized disclosure of internal information about Anika may create serious problems for Anika whether or not the information is used to facilitate improper trading in securities of Anika. Therefore, it shall be the duty of each Covered Person employed or affiliated with Anika to maintain the confidentiality of information relating to Anika or obtained through a relationship of confidence. Covered Persons should not discuss internal matters or developments with anyone outside Anika, except as necessary in the performance of regular corporate duties. 8 Precautions: When a Covered Person is involved in a matter or transaction which is sensitive and, if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to have an effect on the market price of the securities of Anika or any other company involved in the transaction, that Covered Person should consider taking extraordinary precautions to prevent misuse or unauthorized disclosure of such information. Such measures include the following: • maintaining files securely and avoiding storing information on computer systems that can be accessed by other individuals; • avoiding the discussion of confidential matters in areas where the conversation could possibly be overheard; • not gossiping about Anika affairs; and • restricting the copying and distribution of sensitive documents within Anika. Internet: Any written or verbal statement that would be prohibited under the law or under this Policy is equally prohibited if made on the Internet or by social media. Inadvertent disclosure of material, non-public information: If MNPI regarding Anika is inadvertently disclosed, no matter what the circumstances, by any Covered Person, any person making or discovering that disclosure should immediately report the facts to the Compliance Officer. GENERAL Individual responsibility: Covered Persons have ethical and legal obligations to maintain the confidentiality of information about Anika and to not trade in Anika securities (or the securities of another firm) while in possession of MNPI. In all cases, the ultimate responsibility for adhering to this Policy and avoiding improper trading rests with the Covered Person, and any action on the part of Anika and the Compliance Officer or any other Covered Person pursuant to this Policy (or otherwise) does not in any way constitute legal advice or insulate an individual from liability under applicable securities laws. If a Covered Person violates this Policy, Anika may take disciplinary action, including termination of employment for cause. The Covered Person may also be subject to severe legal penalties under applicable securities laws. Reporting of violations: Any individual who violates this Policy, or any federal or state laws governing insider trading or tipping, or knows of any such violation by any other individual subject to this Policy, must report the violation immediately to the Compliance Officer. If the conduct involves the Compliance Officer, the violation should be reported to the Chief Financial Officer. Waivers: A waiver of any provision of this Policy in a specific instance may be authorized in writing by the Compliance Officer or his or her designee, and any such waiver shall be reported to the Board at its next scheduled meeting or at such earlier time as may be determined by the Compliance Officer to be necessary or desirable. 9 Modifications: Anika may at any time change this Policy or adopt such other policies or procedures that it considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of its insider trading policies. Notice of any such change will be made available to all directors of Anika Therapeutics, Inc., and all employees and consultants of Anika. Questions: Questions regarding this Policy are encouraged and may be directed to the Compliance Officer. Last updated: December 3, 2024 10 SCHEDULE A STOCK TRANSACTION REQUEST FORM Pursuant to the Anika Therapeutics, Inc. Insider Trading Policy, I hereby notify Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company") of my intent to trade securities of the Company as indicated below. Requestor Name and Title: ____________________________________________________ Intent to Purchase Shares on the Open Market Maximum Number of Shares to be Purchased: ____________________________________ Intended Date of Purchase: ____________________________________ Intent to Exercise Stock Options (Employee Benefit Plan) Maximum Number of Shares to be Exercised: ____________________________________ Intended Date of Exercise: ____________________________________ Option Grant Date: _____________________________________ Option Exercise Price: _____________________________________ Type of Option (ISO, NQSO): ____________________________________ *If exercising options from more than 1 grant/lot, please provide additional details on the attached page Intent to Sell Shares on the Open Market Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold: ____________________________________ Intended Date of Sale: ____________________________________ Type of Shares to be Sold (vested RSUs, exercised ISO/NQSO, ESPP, open market purchase): ____________________________________ *If selling shares from more than 1 grant/lot, please provide additional details on the attached page Intent to Gift Shares Maximum Number of Shares to be Gifted: ____________________________________ Intended Date of Gift: ____________________________________ Type of Shares to be Gifted (vested RSUs, exercised ISO/NQSO, ESPP, open market purchase): ____________________________________ *If gifting shares from more than 1 grant/lot, please provide additional details on the attached page SECTION 16 RULE 144 (Not applicable for purchase) ☐ I am not subject to Section 16. ☐ To the best of my knowledge, I have not (and am not deemed to have) engaged in an opposite way transaction within the previous 6 months that was not exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. ☐ None of the above. ☐ I am not an “affiliate” of the Company and the transaction requested above does not involve the sale of “restricted securities” (as those terms are defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended). ☐ To the best of my knowledge, the transaction requested above will meet all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144. ☐ The transaction requested will be made pursuant to an effective registration statement covering such transaction. ☐ None of the above. CERTIFICATION I, hereby certify that (i) I am not in possession of any material, non-public information concerning the Company (MNPI, as defined in the Company's Insider Trading Policy), and (ii) I am not purchasing any securities of the Company on "margin" in contravention of the Company's Insider Trading Policy. I understand that, if I trade while possessing such information or in violation of such trading restrictions, I may be subject to severe civil and/or criminal penalties, and may be subject to discipline by the Company, including termination. __________________________________ Signature __________________________________ Date __________________________________ Authorized Approval Signature Compliance Officer (or designee) ___________________________________ Date Additional Transaction Details Intent to Exercise Stock Options (Employee Benefit Plan) Maximum Number of Shares to be Exercised: ____________________________________ Intended Date of Exercise: ____________________________________ Option Grant Date: _____________________________________ Option Exercise Price: _____________________________________ Type of Option (ISO, NQSO): ____________________________________ *If exercising options from more than 1 grant/lot, please provide additional details on the attached page Intent to Exercise Stock Options (Employee Benefit Plan) Maximum Number of Shares to be Exercised: ____________________________________ Intended Date of Exercise: ____________________________________ Option Grant Date: _____________________________________ Option Exercise Price: _____________________________________ Type of Option (ISO, NQSO): ____________________________________ *If exercising options from more than 1 grant/lot, please provide additional details on the attached page Intent to Sell Shares on the Open Market Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold: ____________________________________ Intended Date of Sale: ____________________________________ Type of Shares to be Sold (vested RSUs, exercised ISO/NQSO, ESPP, open market purchase): ____________________________________ *If selling shares from more than 1 grant/lot, please provide additional details on the attached page Intent to Sell Shares on the Open Market Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold: ____________________________________ Intended Date of Sale: ____________________________________ Type of Shares to be Sold (vested RSUs, exercised ISO/NQSO, ESPP, open market purchase): ____________________________________ *If selling shares from more than 1 grant/lot, please provide additional details on the attached page Intent to Gift Shares Maximum Number of Shares to be Gifted: ____________________________________ Intended Date of Gift: ____________________________________ Type of Shares to be Gifted (vested RSUs, exercised ISO/NQSO, ESPP, open market purchase): ____________________________________ *If gifting shares from more than 1 grant/lot, please provide additional details on the attached page Exhibit 21.1 SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT Name of Subsidiary Jurisdiction of Formation Anika Securities, Inc. Massachusetts Anika Therapeutics Limited United Kingdom Anika Therapeutics S.r.l. (Formerly: Fidia Advanced Biopolymers S.r.l.) Italy Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-219190, 333-232254, 333-239304, 333-258529, 333-258530, 333-260821, 333- 266550, 333-273812, 333-276622 and 333-279870 on Form S-8 of our reports dated March 13, 2025, relating to the financial statements of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”), and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Anika Therapeutics, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2024. /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP Boston, Massachusetts March 14, 2025 Exhibit 31.1 CERTIFICATION I, Cheryl Blanchard, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 of Anika Therapeutics, Inc.; 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15I and 15d-15I) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d- 15(f)) for the registrant and have: a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: March 14, 2025 /s/ Cheryl Blanchard President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) Exhibit 31.2 CERTIFICATION I, Stephen Griffin, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 of Anika Therapeutics, Inc.; 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15I and 15d-15I) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d- 15(f)) for the registrant and have: a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: March 14, 2025 /s/ Stephen Griffin Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) Exhibit 32.1 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of Anika Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that: The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Form 10-K”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Date: March 14, 2025 /s/ Cheryl Blanchard President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ Stephen Griffin Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.