Kakao Healthcare and i-SENS said they have signed a contract to cooperate in the supply of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices and data linkage-based blood glucose management services.

The two companies have been discussing cooperation since July last year and had signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the chronic disease management business in January this year.

Under the accord, the two companies plan to provide innovative digital healthcare services by combining Kakao Healthcare's platform and artificial intelligence capabilities with i-SENS's biosensor expertise, including CGM devices.

Also, i-SENS will supply its CGM device, CareSens Air, to Kakao Healthcare, which will then distribute the product through its platform.

CareSens Air is the first locally-developed CGM device to receive approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and reimbursement. i-SENS' started marketing the product in Sep. 11.

The two companies will advance algorithms based on blood glucose data, and will work together to provide diabetes education for users, including proper use of CGM devices and diabetes-related knowledge and information.

Kakao Healthcare plans to launch its digital blood glucose management service in Korea in the fourth quarter of this year and is currently conducting stability and convenience tests through the connection with CareSens Air.

Kakao Healthcare plans to introduce its products and services to various customers, including individual patients, companies, and screening centers. Additionally, it aims to enhance the convenience for doctors by integrating its system with hospitals' electronic medical records.

"As a representative chronic disease, diabetes requires patients to change their lifestyle outside of the hospital, and Kakao Healthcare's solution alongside i-SENS' CGM device is expected to directly help patients by conveniently and easily presenting the flow of blood sugar according to various life variables," Kakao Healthcare CEO Hwang Hee said. "Through organic cooperation with i-SENS, the goal is to reduce the prevalence of diabetes ultimately."