IBSA at the ETA Congress 2026: New Perspectives for Thyroid Health

Thyroid disorders represent one of the most widespread challenges in endocrinology and have a direct and significant impact on the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. In this context, IBSA has always been guided by the Caring Innovation approach, which consists of qualitatively transforming well-known therapeutic solutions, making them better suited to people's health needs. 

In the field of endocrinology, IBSA will participate in the 47th Congress of the European Thyroid Association (ETA), scheduled to take place in Porto (Portugal) from September 5 to 8, 2026. The event will be an important opportunity for exchange with the international scientific community on the latest evidence and future perspectives in the management of thyroid disorders.

Despite the availability of treatments established for decades, the daily management of thyroid disorders still has significant room for improvement. Hypothyroidism, for example, affects up to 5% of the global population, with a marked prevalence in women: primary hypothyroidism is up to 8–9 times more frequent in women than in men¹. 

Thyroid hormones are characterized by an extremely delicate action profile, and even minimal variations in their absorption can compromise the efficacy of the therapy. Indeed, clinical data highlight that between 5% and 10% of patients treated with levothyroxine (LT4) report persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism, mood disorders, and poor health-related quality of life (QoL), even when thyroid function appears biochemically normal². 

In daily life, several factors can affect the absorption of levothyroxine tablets. These include the method of administration, co-ingestion with certain foods, beverages, or medications, and the presence of specific gastrointestinal conditions.

These challenges will be at the core of the symposium sponsored by IBSA, "Levothyroxine treatment in the era of precision medicine", scheduled for Monday, September 7, 2026, during the ETA congress. Under the leadership of internationally renowned experts – including Chairmen Prof. Marco Centanni and Prof. Simon Pearce – the scientific community will discuss the evolution of hypothyroidism therapy towards an increasingly personalized approach. 

Therapy personalisation is in line with the most recent recommendations of the European Thyroid Association for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases. Experts emphasize the importance of carefully assessing patients' malabsorption factors, pointing to alternative formulations to tablets – such as softgel capsules or liquid solutions – as first-line options. 

Against this backdrop, IBSA's PEARLtec® technology plays a key role, allowing a liquid, suspension, or gel matrix to be incorporated within a soft gelatine shell. From a pharmacological standpoint, the innovation of the softgel capsule lies precisely in promoting a rapid and uniform release of the active ingredient, preventing certain factors from interfering with absorption compared to traditional dosage forms. 

Paola Fasola, Sr. Medical Affairs Manager, commented: “Our participation in the ETA Congress 2026 reflects the very essence of IBSA's vision: listening to the needs of the medical community and patients to drive scientific innovation and the development of formulations capable of providing concrete answers to these needs. The recent ETA recommendations confirm its validity.” 

In addition to the symposium, IBSA will be present at the congress with an exhibition space dedicated to meeting the international endocrinology community – an opportunity to share scientific evidence, discuss the evolution of clinical practice, and explore innovative therapeutic solutions for the management of hypothyroidism³.

¹ Adv Ther. 2019; 36(Suppl 2): 47–58 

² Borson-Chazot F, et al. (2021). J Clin Med, 10(7):1386; Hidalgo J, et al. (2024). Endocr Pract, 30(2):95–100.  

³ Skelin M, et al. (2017). Clin Ther, 39(2):378–403 

⁴ Centanni, Marco et al. Eur Thyroid J. 2025;14(4):e250123 

Preparation: September 2026