Case Study:
Murnia Scales Access to Treatment, Meeting Needs for Underserved Patients Suffering from Dryness and Other Mouth Conditions
CareQuest Innovation Partners accelerates Murnia’s innovative solutions that address some of the most common, but untreated, oral-systemic conditions impacting millions
Dry mouth is an extremely common condition that affects more than 25 million Americans, disproportionally impacting older adults and patients with chronic conditions. The American Dental Association estimates that dry mouth affects 30% of patients older than 65 years, 40% of patients older than 80 years, and is twice as likely to occur in adults taking one or more medications daily.
Dryness doesn’t just cause discomfort; it significantly increases the risk of cavities, tooth decay, and infections that can impact both oral and overall health. Patients going through chemotherapy particularly feel the effects, with intense feelings of dryness as well as oral mucositis, a debilitating and painful condition that causes redness, swelling, and sores.
It’s a serious and overlooked problem — and Murnia is stepping up to the challenge, helping underserved patients receive the care they need.
30-40%
Dry mouth affects 30% of patients older than 65 years, 40% of patients older than 80 years
SMILE Health Identifies Broader Product Appeal and Impact
Murnia is a brand of Umayana with team members in California and Istanbul. Umayana, via years of biotechnology R&D and study of plant molecules, developed and patented the Murnia molecular compound that has multiple benefits for mucosa and skin and helps with a range of oral conditions by soothing and hydrating oral tissues and supporting oral health maintenance.
The Umayana team first began working with CareQuest Innovation Partners as part of the 2024 SMILE Health accelerator as they looked to launch in the US market.
Gülbin Müftüoglu
General Manager, Umayana
“We were excited to work with CareQuest Innovation Partners to inform our US go-to-market strategy and find ways to reach even more patients suffering from oral mucositis and dryness in their mouth,” said Gülbin Müftüoglu, General Manager. “We knew we had a unique solution that could help significantly reduce or even prevent debilitating conditions that impact not just oral health, but overall health.”
93%
of patients surveyed said they need a solution for oral mucositis
CareQuest Innovation Partners paired Murnia with leading industry partners, including Young Innovations. Through their SMILE Health validation studies, Murnia worked with Young Innovations to receive feedback from providers and potential patients on the demand and need for oral care products. Their collaboration found that 93% of patients surveyed said they need a solution for oral mucositis, and 100% of dentists said they would offer an oral mucositis solution. They also learned that there is a broad spectrum of needs for what Murnia’s solution can address, from less severe cases to very severe cases that can hinder a patient’s ability to eat and drink, causing weight loss, micronutrient deficiencies, and further weakening of the immune system.
“Coming into SMILE Health, we were originally focused on preventing and treating oral mucositis in cancer patients,” said Müftüoglu. “We saw that most cancer patients experience dryness as a side effect of treatments, and some may have lost their salivary glands all together. As we did deeper research during SMILE, we noticed that the problem is much broader, and that we could provide an accessible and effective solution for not only cancer patients but patients with other chronic conditions and the elderly.”
100%
of surveyed dentists were dissatisfied with current solutions for dry mouth
From the SMILE Health validation studies, the team found that both direct-to-consumer and direct-to-provider approaches would be beneficial for Murnia Mouth Spray, leading them to continue work with Young Innovations on product distribution strategies.
Analyzing the needs of underserved populations with ACCELERATE
5,000
Estimated number of dentists that will be reached by education modules
The number of people with complaints of oral dryness is expected to grow as the global population ages: The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over and by 2050, the population of people aged 60 years and older will double to 2.1 billion.
To help meet that growing need, in 2025 Murnia applied for ACCELERATE, an exclusive funding opportunity from CareQuest Innovation Partners. ACCELERATE allows Murnia to continue its successful partnership with Young Innovations to:
- Reach 5,000 dental professionals with targeted, codeveloped education modules about the benefits and cost effectiveness of Murnia Mouth Spray, including in underserved communities. Young Innovations has a history of supporting dental education through training programs, reaching as many as 17,000 participants.
- Engage dental professionals and provide opportunities for professionals to purchase Murnia’s Mouth Spray for their offices.
- Launch Murnia Mouth Spray through Young’s distribution network for practitioners and B2C channels for professionals and consumers, with the potential to benefit 10,000 consumers.
10,000
Estimated number of consumers that will be reached
“Our goal at Young Innovations is to create ‘A Lifetime of Oral Health’ via innovative, high-quality products and solutions, and both Murnia and CareQuest Innovation Partners are directly aligned with that mission,” said John Frymark, Vice President, Direct at Young Innovations. “Our expanded partnership leverages our resources and expertise to help bring differentiated Murnia Mouth Spray and other forms to more patients who need it.”
John Frymark
Vice President, Direct at Young Innovations
Julia Green
Director of Innovation Services and Programs, CareQuest Innovation Partners