HK inno.N Takes First Step into Medical Device Business with Roche Diagnostics Korea

Sales Agreement for cobas click

HK inno.N is entering the medical device business for the first time through a partnership with Roche Diagnostics Korea. The company plans to expand into the chronic disease diagnostics market by leveraging its network of hospitals and clinics, built through sales of prescription drugs.

Product image of Roche Diagnostics Korea's point-of-care testing (POCT) platform, cobas click. HK inno.N

On November 2, HK inno.N announced that it had signed a sales agreement with Roche Diagnostics Korea for the next-generation point-of-care testing (POCT) platform, cobas click. HK inno.N will handle domestic sales and distribution and plans to begin full-scale sales this month.

cobas click is a device that enables tests for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipids and C-reactive protein (CRP), which are needed to manage diabetes and cardiovascular disease, to be performed in the examination room without sending samples to an external testing facility. With just a drop of blood collected from a fingertip, it can assess both a patient's blood glucose control and cardiovascular risk.

Another feature is its improved testing accuracy. The HbA1c test is designed to minimize interference from hemoglobin variants, while the lipid test uses an algorithm to reduce triglyceride measurement errors, improving its agreement with results from diagnostic laboratories. The reagents can be stored at room temperature for up to 16 months, helping reduce the operational burden.

Demand for testing in local clinics has been growing as the population ages and the number of people with chronic diseases rises. HK inno.N plans to target clinics, emphasizing ease of use and operational efficiency.

Kwak Dal-won, CEO of HK inno.N, said, "It is meaningful to take our first step into the medical device business with cobas click, a next-generation integrated diagnostics platform. We will provide fast and accurate diagnostic results from a single blood draw, improving diagnostic convenience at clinics and contributing to patients' disease management."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.