Lotte Healthcare, a subsidiary of Lotte Group, launched its healthcare service platform ‘CAZZLE’ on the 18th of last month. Although the number of downloads on the two major app stores is not high due to its initial release, the reviews are generally favorable. Users have praised it as a convenient app that systematically helps with health management. In particular, it received high marks for linking genetic testing and health checkups, as well as providing customized supplement information. Lotte Healthcare was established in April last year with a 70 billion KRW investment from Lotte Holdings to secure new growth engines for Lotte Group. CAZZLE promotes itself as a personalized health management platform emphasizing ‘easy and enjoyable health management in daily life.’ It integrates and analyzes health checkup data using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to provide customized health information and shopping convenience.
CAZZLE differentiates itself from other healthcare services by being an open platform that can connect services from Lotte Group affiliates as well as partner companies. Among these, it specializes in Direct to Consumer (DTC) testing services. In collaboration with Theragen Bio, a genomic analysis specialist company, it offers genetic and microbiome DTC testing. Users purchase a kit through the CAZZLE app, collect samples, and send them in; then, they can check the analysis results within the CAZZLE app. To support this, Lotte Healthcare, together with Theragen Bio, established Theragen Health to launch the genetic testing service ‘Fromgene.’ Fromgene will provide 69 types of genetic DTC test results, including nutrients, skin, hair, dietary habits, and exercise characteristics.
BankSalad, a financial MyData company, has also been offering DTC testing services since 2021. Currently, in collaboration with LabGenomics, it provides genetic and microbial DTC tests, offering free test kits daily on a first-come, first-served basis. Test results can be viewed by function within the BankSalad app. Macrogen, a genomic analysis company, also provides genetic testing services through its genetic DTC test service called ‘Gentok.’
Hwang Hee, CEO of Kakao Healthcare, is speaking at a press conference held last March. [Photo by Kakao Healthcare]
Major IT companies are also establishing healthcare subsidiaries and research centers, continuing preparations to enter the healthcare service market. Kakao Healthcare’s service, scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of this year, focuses on blood sugar management. To this end, it has partnered with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device companies to offer a digital blood sugar management service that includes real-time blood sugar measurement and management functions. CGM is a medical device attached to the body that detects blood sugar changes and allows real-time monitoring of blood sugar via devices such as smartphones. Unlike traditional blood sugar meters that require finger-prick blood samples each time, CGM improves convenience for diabetic patients by eliminating this inconvenience. For this purpose, Kakao Healthcare has signed agreements with CGM developers Dexcom and i-SENS to collaborate on blood sugar management services.
Naver is also preparing to enter the personal healthcare platform service market. In December 2020, Naver established the Naver Healthcare Research Center within the company, operating an in-house hospital while beginning research on digital healthcare services for individuals. It is known that Naver is developing a personal healthcare service for internal testing and continuing demonstration work.
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