<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000898437
<NAME> ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   4-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996             AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             SEP-01-1996             SEP-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996             AUG-31-1996
<CASH>                                      22,679,820               2,704,665               3,651,023
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,918,293                 539,004                 631,916
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                  2,541,552               2,481,646               2,514,280
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            27,750,029               6,100,617               7,299,426
<PP&E>                                       4,138,365               3,865,330               4,745,923
<DEPRECIATION>                               3,325,321               3,046,286               3,465,175
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              28,749,338               6,919,661               8,580,174
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        2,421,140               1,805,548               1,441,316
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0               2,602,527               2,523,483
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        96,911                  49,307                  48,407
<OTHER-SE>                                  26,127,375               2,319,504               4,366,968
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                28,749,338               6,919,661               8,580,174
<SALES>                                      9,255,338               1,212,041               4,612,918
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            11,955,338               1,212,041               4,612,918
<CGS>                                        4,744,123               1,308,625               4,472,214
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                4,744,123               1,308,625               4,472,214
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              3,423,114             (2,715,497)             (2,963,193)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    78,677                       0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          3,344,437             (2,715,497)             (2,963,193)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,344,437             (2,657,599)             (2,848,879)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .60                   (.56)                   (.76)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .44                   (.56)                   (.76)


</TABLE>