Sky Labs Inc. (CEO Jack Byunghwan Lee) announced on the 6th that it has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) for the ring-type blood pressure monitor, ‘CART BP pro’, in the Japanese hospital and clinic market.
This agreement follows the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two companies in December 2024. Sky Labs initially explored global expansion opportunities through Korea Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and the introduction by the Korean affiliate led to formal discussions and negotiations with Otsuka’s headquarters. Such a collaboration represents a successful open-innovation case in which a Korean venture company leveraged the domestic subsidiary of a multinational corporation as a bridge to establish a partnership with its global headquarters.
Otsuka is a global pharmaceutical company providing a wide range of medical solutions worldwide, making it one of the most trusted companies in Japan’s healthcare landscape. By partnering with Otsuka and leveraging profound expertise in the cardiovascular field as well as its extensive distribution network, Sky Labs aims to reach a broader patient population and accelerate the adoption of CART BP pro across hospitals and clinics throughout Japan.
The number of hypertension patients in Japan is approximately 43 million, of whom an estimated 29 per cent fail to achieve blood pressure control despite receiving treatment, and 33 per cent are believed to be unaware of their condition. Furthermore, as abnormal 24-hour blood pressure patterns and nocturnal hypertension are linked to increased risks of organ damage and cerebrovascular diseases, the clinical importance of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring is growing. Given these clinical requirements and the vast patient population, CART BP pro is expected to significantly contribute to the management of hypertensive patients in Japan, ranging from precise diagnosis and optimal treatment strategy development to systematic assessment of therapeutic effects.
CART BP pro has already demonstrated its technological prowess with tangible results in the Korean market. Following medical device approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in 2023, it gained clinical recognition in 2024 through national health insurance reimbursement approval.
