Emocog’s digital therapeutic device for mild cognitive impairment, Cogthera, has surpassed 2,000 cumulative prescriptions. This milestone indicates the growing acceptance of digital therapeutics in clinical practice, particularly among elderly patients who continue to use and refill the device.
On Wednesday, Emocog released an analysis of real-world usage data based on Cogthera’s 2,000 cumulative prescriptions. Cogthera is a digital therapeutic device that enables patients with mild cognitive impairment to engage in personalized cognitive training via a mobile app over a 12-week period, as prescribed by a specialist. The device received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in May of last year, with prescriptions beginning in late October.
After reaching 1,000 cumulative prescriptions in late April, Cogthera hit the 2,000 mark on August 12, just three and a half months later. This second thousand was achieved about two and a half months faster than the first. The number of patients receiving prescriptions also saw a significant increase of approximately 80%, jumping from 874 to 1,571.
The majority of users were from the elderly population. The average age of patients with cumulative prescriptions was 72.7 years, with those in their 70s accounting for 45.9% and those over 80 making up 21.5%. Patients aged 60 and older represented about 93% of the total user base.
Engagement rates in cognitive training among elderly patients were remarkably high. The initiation rates for cognitive training were 99.7% for patients in their 60s, 98.5% for those in their 70s, and 99.1% for those over 80. Completion rates for the 12-week program were approximately 70% for those in their 60s, 68% for those in their 70s, and 59% for those over 80.
The device’s reach within the medical community has also expanded. The number of medical institutions implementing Cogthera increased from 68 to 85, while the number of prescribing medical professionals rose from 80 to 104. Of the 2,000 cumulative prescriptions, 429 were refills, accounting for 21.5% of the total.
Emocog emphasized that this data does not evaluate Cogthera’s clinical efficacy but rather illustrates patient usage and participation patterns following prescription.
Lee Jun-young, co-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emocog, stated that the successful integration of digital therapeutic devices in clinical practice isn’t just about prescription numbers. It’s crucial to consider actual patient usage, treatment engagement, and the expansion of prescribing professionals and institutions. He added that it will continue to analyze long-term participation and refill patterns to build a robust body of real-world evidence.
Emocog, a digital healthcare company, was co-founded in 2021 by Professor Lee Jun-young from Seoul National University and CEO Noh Yu-hun from Chung-Ang University. The company has focused on developing comprehensive digital solutions for cognitive health, particularly targeting mild cognitive impairment, the stage preceding dementia. After securing initial funding in 2021 and establishing a corporate research institute, they completed the development of Cogthera in 2022, conducting domestic confirmatory clinical trials and pre-consultations with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In 2023, Cogthera was designated as the 35th innovative medical device, and in 2024, it completed confirmatory clinical trials and secured Series B funding. That same year, the company obtained software medical device manufacturing certification from General Motors and expanded its portfolio by acquiring HappyMind, a learning disability solution company, and PL Group, a pharmaceutical distribution firm. In 2025, Cogthera received product approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and was designated as an innovative medical technology, paving the way for prescriptions in domestic medical institutions. Currently, the company is accumulating real-world usage data while pursuing expansion into the European market through its German subsidiary.