Sky Labs (CEO Lee Byeong-hwan) announced on the 6th that it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of Japan for the ring-type blood pressure monitor 'CART BP pro' in Japan.
This contract was concluded based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two companies in December 2024. Sky Labs explored global expansion opportunities through Otsuka Pharmaceutical Korea, and the introduction of the Korean branch served as a catalyst for full-scale discussions and negotiations with Otsuka Pharmaceutical headquarters. This is considered an example of a Korean venture company leveraging the domestic branch of a multinational company as a bridge to establish a partnership with its global headquarters.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical is a global pharmaceutical company and one of the most trusted companies in the Japanese healthcare industry. Skylabs plans to leverage Otsuka Pharmaceutical's cardiovascular experience and local distribution network to expand the introduction of Kart BP Pro to Japanese hospitals and clinics and improve patient accessibility.
Approximately 43 million people in Japan suffer from hypertension. Approximately 29% of them are receiving treatment but their blood pressure remains uncontrolled, and 33% are estimated to be unaware of their hypertension. Furthermore, abnormal 24-hour blood pressure patterns and nocturnal hypertension are associated with an increased risk of organ damage and cerebrovascular disease. Therefore, the clinical importance of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring is being emphasized.
Kart BP Pro has already proven its clinical efficacy in Korea, receiving medical device approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2023 and reimbursement approval from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in 2024. It is currently used in approximately 1,700 medical institutions nationwide, with over 150,000 prescriptions administered in just one year since its domestic launch.
Conventional blood pressure monitors use inflatable cuffs to measure blood pressure, but the cuffs can cause discomfort and pain, and can disrupt sleep during nighttime measurements. The Cart BP Pro utilizes photoplethysmography (PPG) technology to measure blood pressure without a cuff. Patients can conveniently record their blood pressure during daily activities and while sleeping, while medical professionals can secure reliable data to provide appropriate treatment.
Lee Byeong-hwan, CEO of Sky Labs, said, “Through this expansion into Japan, we will demonstrate our unique blood pressure measurement technology in the global market and leap forward as a leading company in the global blood pressure monitoring market.”
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