#South Korea #Seoul #Sky Labs #CART BP pro #Otsuka Pharmaceutical

Exclusive Distribution Agreement Signed

Seoul, South Korea – Sky Labs Inc., under the leadership of CEO Jack Byunghwan Lee, has announced a pivotal agreement with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The exclusive distribution deal for the innovative "CART BP pro" aims to penetrate the hospital and clinical market in Japan.

This milestone is a follow-up to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was inked in December 2024. Initially, Sky Labs sought partnerships for global expansion via Otsuka Pharmaceutical Korea. This connection catalyzed formal discussions and negotiations with Otsuka’s headquarters, marking a substantial case of open innovation where a South Korean startup leveraged the local presence of a multinational for a strategic alliance with its global headquarters.

Otsuka is a renowned global pharmaceutical firm, trusted within Japan’s healthcare system. Joining forces with Otsuka allows Sky Labs to tap into their deep cardiovascular expertise and extensive distribution network, enhancing their reach to a larger patient population and expediting the adoption of the CART BP pro throughout Japanese healthcare facilities.

Addressing Hypertension in Japan

Currently, approximately 43 million individuals in Japan are living with hypertension. Alarmingly, nearly 29% are not adequately managing their blood pressure despite being under treatment, while approximately 33% remain unaware of their condition. Further complicating matters, abnormal blood pressure patterns during a 24-hour period and nighttime hypertension are linked to heightened risks of organic damage and cerebrovascular diseases. Given these pressing clinical needs, the role of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is becoming increasingly critical in managing hypertension.

The CART BP pro is poised to make significant contributions to hypertension management in Japan, facilitating accurate diagnoses, developing optimal therapeutic strategies, and systematically assessing treatment efficacy. It is designed to address these challenges head-on by providing a reliable and convenient method for monitoring blood pressure.

Proven Technology with Growing Adoption

The CART BP pro has already established its technological reliability with successful outcomes in South Korea. After receiving medical device approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in 2023, it achieved national health insurance reimbursement status in 2024, reinforcing its credibility.

Having been prescribed in over 1,700 medical institutions, including key hospitals, the device has surpassed 150,000 cumulative prescriptions within just a year of its nationwide introduction. This impressive track record has been a decisive factor in securing the exclusive distribution agreement.

Standard blood pressure monitors typically employ an inflatable cuff, which can cause discomfort and disrupt sleep during nighttime monitoring. In contrast, the CART BP pro leverages photoplethysmography (PPG) technology to measure blood pressure without a cuff. This innovative approach enables patients to comfortably take measurements during daily activities and while sleeping, ensuring healthcare professionals receive stable data crucial for developing treatment plans.

Future Aspirations

Jack Byunghwan Lee, CEO of Sky Labs, expressed his commitment to global innovation: "With our entry into the Japanese market, we plan to validate our unique blood pressure monitoring technology globally, striving to lead the blood pressure monitoring industry."

About Sky Labs

Founded in September 2015, Sky Labs is a health tech company pioneering the "CART" device—an innovative medical platform aimed at monitoring chronic disease patients. After introducing the first CART for atrial fibrillation monitoring in 2020, the company has continuously expanded its technological capabilities. In 2023, it obtained medical device approval for the CART BP pro, further establishing its role in chronic disease management. The company also launched a consumer version, the CART BP, available through online platforms.

About Otsuka Pharmaceutical

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive healthcare company dedicated to enhancing the well-being of individuals globally. It specializes in offering medical treatments and diagnostics for both physical and mental health, supporting daily health maintenance and improvement underpinned by scientific evidence and its corporate philosophy.

For media inquiries, contact:
Inok Jung – [email protected]
Bomi Lee – [email protected]

Source: The Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the Management of Elevated Blood Pressure and Hypertension 2025 (JSH2025)