Omron Deepens Investment in Sky Labs as BP Ring Gains Clinical and Consumer Traction

Omron Healthcare and Sky Labs initially signed an MoU last year to jointly develop and distribute the BP ring globally, alongside a separate distribution agreement in Japan for earlier products.

Japanese medical device major Omron has increased its investment in South Korea-based Sky Labs as the startup’s ring-type blood pressure (BP) monitor, CART BP, continues to gain clinical recognition and consumer traction.

According to a media release, Omron Ventures made an undisclosed investment in Sky Labs, while Omron Healthcare signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen their partnership following the September commercial launch of CART BP — described as the world’s first ring-type, cuffless BP monitor for consumers.

Sky Labs CEO Jack Byunghwan Lee said the expanded strategic partnership recognises the company’s technology for “both clinical effectiveness and business feasibility,” aligning with global standards.

CART BP enables continuous BP measurement throughout the day and during sleep, allowing users to track changes and trends by time, date, and month via a mobile application.

Global Partnership and Clinical Validation

Omron Healthcare and Sky Labs initially signed an MoU last year to jointly develop and distribute the BP ring globally, alongside a separate distribution agreement in Japan for earlier products. More than 400 million blood pressure monitors have been sold globally to date, with Omron among the leading players across more than 130 countries and regions. “Sky Labs is actively pursuing overseas expansion in various countries beyond Japan,” the company told MobiHealth News.

Sky Labs’ clinical version, CART BP Pro, has undergone validation in more than 30 major hospitals in Korea and is currently covered under the country’s National Health Insurance reimbursement scheme. The device is used in over 1,600 medical institutions, including Yonsei Medical Center and Korea University Medical Center.

The company also has a global distribution partnership with Tokyo-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical to market the clinical version to hospitals and clinics.

Sky Labs has completed three of six validation studies under the 2023 European Society of Hypertension protocol for cuffless BP monitors, with the remaining studies underway. Both hospital and consumer versions have received approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, with preparations in progress for U.S. FDA clearance and CE marking under EU regulations.

Integration with Kakao Healthcare

Sky Labs’ recent collaboration with Kakao Healthcare will integrate the BP ring into the PASTA mobile platform via a software development kit. Initially focused on blood glucose management, the AI-powered app will now include BP tracking to support chronic disease management. Both companies are exploring opportunities for further collaboration, Sky Labs said.

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