Kakao Healthcare to launch glucose managing service with Dexcom

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Wed, November 29, 2023 | 00:57

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Kakao Healthcare to launch glucose managing service with Dexcom

Posted : 2023-06-22 16:42

Updated : 2023-06-22 20:52

Kakao Healthcare CEO Hwang Hee, second from right, poses with, Dexcom Executive Vice President of Global Revenue Paul Flynn, left, Dexcom Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jereme Sylvain, second from left, and Dexcom Senior Vice President of Strategy, Corporate Development and New Markets Matt Dolan, right, at Dexcom's headquarters in San Diego, after signing a global collaboration agreement, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of Kakao Healthcare

By Baek Byung-yeul

Kakao Healthcare will launch a glucose managing service in the global market including the United States, Korea, Japan and the Middle East in collaboration with the U.S.-based glucose monitoring device maker Dexcom, the health care subsidiary of Kakao said Thursday.

Kakao Healthcare and Dexcom signed a memorandum of understanding in Boston in April to pursue global joint business. They have further developed this agreement and signed a global collaboration agreement this time, under which the two sides will jointly promote a personalized digital blood glucose management service in various regions.

"By combining Kakao Healthcare's software and AI technology capabilities with Dexcom's continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) hardware capabilities, the two companies will provide innovative blood glucose management solutions," Kakao Healthcare said, adding the move is expected to contribute to improving the quality of life and reducing socioeconomic costs for people with diabetes and those in need of glucose control around the world.

The service will first be launched in Korea in the fourth quarter of 2023 by using Dexcom's G7 and G6 devices. It will be expanded to the global market from next year.

Dexcom is a global leader in the real-time CGM market. The company's G7 device is a next-generation CGM device with a short enzyme activation period for blood glucose measurement and high measurement accuracy. It is currently applying for a medical device license from Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

"The agreement with Dexcom will enable us to launch our innovative CGM-based blood glucose management service domestically and expand globally," Kakao Healthcare CEO Hwang Hee said. "As a member of Kakao, we will strive to improve public health and create social value in Korea and achieve global expansion of Korea's digital health care industry."

baekby@koreatimes.co.kr