Emocog brings DTx for mild cognitive impairment to clinical stage: CEO

As Korea’s DTx industry faces challenges with post-approval utilization, Emocog is preparing to expand into clinical practice with its digital therapeutic device “Cogthera,” which is indicated for mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Cogthera received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in May and awaits registration as a device used in medical institutions by the National Evidence-based Healthcare Coordinating Agency (NECA) upon notification from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Unlike simple wellness applications (apps), Cogthera is an evidence-based cognitive intervention therapy software that overcomes the limitations of traditional treatments, which rely on specialized personnel and space within hospitals, offering a new pathway for elderly patients to utilize technology via smartphones. Emocog is seeking solutions for DTx commercialization by pursuing global expansion and reimbursement strategies in line with its founding spirit of “creating treatment devices that provide practical help to patients.”

Korea Biomedical Review interviewed Noh Yoo-hun, CEO and co-founder of Emocog, to learn about the development and commercialization strategy of Cogthera. (Credit: KBR)

Question: Unlike existing DTx companies that focus on mental illnesses like insomnia and depression, Emocog is unique in targeting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as its indication. What made you particularly interested in this indication?

Answer: The development of Cogthera began with the shared awareness of the co-founder, Professor Lee Jun-young, that “medical treatment options are limited for patients with mild cognitive impairment.” Because both co-founders specialize in degenerative brain diseases, we recognized the need for therapeutic intervention for MCI patients, who are in the “intermediate stage” leading to dementia. We clearly felt the need for DTx that provides evidence-based cognitive intervention therapy beyond simple cognitive stimulation or games.

Q: Are there any difficulties for elderly patients in using DTx Cogthera?

A: With the Covid-19 pandemic, smartphone penetration has reached 90 percent. In particular, people in their 60s and older have become accustomed to using smartphones, so we believe that the environment is now in place for elderly patients to utilize digital therapeutics (DTx). We have adopted a conversational interface instead of the traditional button-based user interface (UI), allowing patients to use it as if they were talking to a therapist in a hospital setting. Even elderly patients have no significant difficulty using Cogthera.

Q: What is the difference between Cogthera and general health management apps?

A: Unlike simple wellness apps, the core difference lies in having medical device-level evidence and quality control systems. Only software that has proven its effectiveness through clinical trials conducted in accordance with standards set by regulatory agencies and can be monitored by doctors in clinical settings is recognized as Digital Therapeutics (DTx). Cogthera provides “automated personalized cognitive intervention therapy” that evaluates the user's cognitive state and adjusts difficulty and strategies based on the results.

Q: How does Cogthera offer convenience to patients and medical professionals compared to existing cognitive intervention therapies?

A: While existing cognitive intervention therapies have proven effective, their application in hospitals has been hindered by practical constraints, including the need for specialized personnel, space, and costs. This poses a significant burden on elderly patients who require accompaniment by caregivers. Cogthera replaces this process with a smartphone-based system, offering the advantage of evidence-based treatment without spatial or temporal constraints. In fact, clinical studies have confirmed that cognitive function improvements are maintained even after 12 weeks of use.

Q: What strategies are necessary for Cogthera to be widely prescribed in medical institutions?

A: First and foremost, trust is essential. Prescriptions will increase only when both patients and doctors experience the effects for themselves. Second is a reasonable price. We plan to establish a reasonable cost structure that allows elderly patients to use it without financial burden, and we will also explore strategies such as health insurance coverage or reimbursement to enhance accessibility.

Finally, we aim to create a “total platform” that is easy for both medical professionals and patients to use. We will develop it into a system that integrates memory tests, data monitoring, and medication prescriptions, rather than a simple app. We will build an ecosystem where doctors and patients can come together around a single condition.

Q: You plan to enter the German market, where DTx prescriptions are most active and receiving attention. What are your specific strategies?

A: We established a subsidiary in Germany in 2022, which is operating independently. We manage our software manufacturing and security systems in Germany and have strengthened local medical regulations and communication. In addition, we are building memory testing centers and providing simple screening services within five minutes at bank counters and hospital networks to target the early detection market. We are also expanding a precision diagnosis ecosystem based on PET, MRI, and blood tests in collaboration with Neurophet, DuChemBio, Eisai, and others. We will focus on our localization strategy in Germany, leveraging these capabilities.

Q: What are your plans for establishing a revenue model and going public?

A: We are building a “lifecycle ecosystem” that goes beyond simply selling DTx. We have secured various revenue streams through a platform that encompasses memory tests, blood tests, hospital connections, and collaboration with pharmaceutical companies. We have completed Series B investment and plan to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) in late 2026 or early 2027 once a stable revenue base is established. However, we will refrain from rushing the IPO and instead proceed in stages after securing definite growth potential in both domestic and international markets.

Q: Is there any message you would like to share?

A: We strive to remain true to our original goal of creating a treatment device that genuinely benefits patients with mild cognitive impairment and their families. At the same time, we are committed to fulfilling our promise to our employees to create products that bring happiness. We hope that Cogthera will not merely be a new DTx technology, but a practical treatment tool that can be used by the elderly without any burden.