Spherix said patient recruitment for a phase III trial of a diabetes drug, Naturlose, has begun in India. The company hopes to find 300 patients at 35 sites. “We believe that the Phase III trial will be completed on schedule as reported during the May 2008 annual shareholders meeting,” said Randy Brown, chief of operations. Here’s the release.

AAIPharma appointed Andreas Dreps as senior VP, global clinical development services. Ralf Wolter has been hired as VP clinical operations in Europe, reporting to Dreps. “We are very fortunate to add Andreas to the leadership team of the company,” said CEO Ludo Reynders. “His vast drug development experience and track record, especially in the clinical oncology area, will be invaluable in the further development of our global clinical development business unit.”

Memphis, Tenn.-based Acorn said it exceeded its own internal financial projections. The company did not release any numbers. “The industry has responded favorably to Acorn’s ability to consistently exceed client expectations, and we are ahead of projections in both number of projects, patients accrued, and revenue generated. Our strong, active relationship with community oncology and its physicians along with our proprietary technology provide sponsors with a combination for success,” said CEO Steve Coplon. Acorn’s team provides sponsors with project, site and data management; statistics and statistical programming; and medical writing. Here’s the release.

Lab Research implemented a new business development platform in Europe to leverage the recent good laboratory practices recertification of its Hungarian and Danish sites. The company also signed an exclusive agency agreement with Media Services, a Japanese consultancy. Media Services will represent Lab Research in Japan by targeting the large Japanese pharmaceutical market, as well as assist Lab Hungary in better serving the local agro-chemical market. Here’s the release.

Icon Clinical opened a full service central laboratory in Bangalore, India. The purpose-built, 15,000-sq. ft. facility expands Icon Central Laboratories’ existing network of laboratories located in Farmingdale, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and Singapore. The new laboratory is in the process of receiving College of American Pathologists (CAP) and National Accreditation Board for Laboratory Testing (NABL) accreditation. “India has become a key region for global clinical trials, which has greatly boosted the demand for local laboratory testing within a global laboratory network,” commented Bob Scott-Edwards, president of Icon Central Laboratories. “Having a fully-owned facility in India provides clients with the reassurance that our core laboratory services, ranging from sample management and testing to final data transfer, adhere to our stringent global quality standards. We also offer a test menu that is second to none, which avoids the need to export samples and makes Icon a one-stop-shop for clients looking to conduct complex clinical trials in India.”

Lilly plans to donate 800,000 vials of insulin to the International Diabetes Federation’s Life for a Child Program, which could aid as many as 24,000 children. The initial focus will be in sub-Saharan Africa. “Diabetes is emerging as one of the most serious health problems of our time, and children with diabetes in the developing world are particularly vulnerable,” said Carlos Paya, VP of Lilly Research Laboratories and leader of its diabetes effort. “For nearly nine decades, Lilly has been at the forefront of providing solutions to combat the problems of diabetes around the world, and there is no more dire need right now than to ensure children with diabetes in the developing world—particularly sub-Saharan Africa—have access to the insulin they need.”

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