SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Akesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB:AKES), an emerging diabetes drug-development company, today announced it plans to begin a 13-week preclinical safety program for AKP-020, a novel vanadium compound that has shown considerable potential as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes. The studies will be conducted by Charles River Laboratories, and follows a recently completed 28-day preclinical safety program, also performed by Charles River.