Essentiale gathers top European liver health experts to address the ‘silent’ epidemic of fatty liver disease.

Hungary, 26 February 2026. Essentiale, an Opella brand and the world’s number 1 over the counter liver care brand[1], has teamed up with European liver experts and global healthcare professionals to showcase the benefits of early diagnosis and intervention in fatty liver disease, also known as MASLD[2].

Rapidly becoming a global challenge, MASLD affects an estimated 30% of the global adult population[3] and is projected to impact more than 55% worldwide by 2040[4]. Too often, symptoms like fatigue, low energy and disturbed sleep are dismissed, allowing the disease to progress unnoticed. Essentiale’s message is clear: diagnose early and act fast.

To support this, Essentiale is hosting a satellite symposium at the EASL SLD Summit in Budapest, a global event for healthcare professionals focused on Steatotic Liver Disease. Essentiale brings together top European liver health experts for the second year in a row to address the hidden burden of this ‘silent’ epidemic and present new evidence on the benefits of early diagnosis and intervention. The symposium aims to help shape policy, advance research, highlight the human impact of fatty liver disease and ultimately build the capabilities of healthcare professionals to improve patient care.

Nikunj Thakker. Global Brand General Manager Essentiale, Opella.

“Fatty liver disease often goes unnoticed, but up to 8 in 10 cases are reversible when identified and treated early. Evidence from our EXCEL study, a first-of-its-kind clincal study, shows that Essentiale, when combined with lifestyle measures, can reduce liver fat 2.5 times more effectively than diet and exercise alone. With Essentiale, we are committed more than ever to supporting earlier diagnosis and evidence-based intervention, making self-care as simple as it should be.”

In 2025, Essentiale introduced findings from the landmark study EXCEL. It shows combined with a healthy lifestyle, Essentiale significantly reduces liver fat and speeds up liver regeneration compared to diet and exercise alone. Fatigue scores improved significantly during the study - fatigue being the most common but often ignored symptom. Participants with MASLD and metabolic conditions like obesity or type 2 diabetes saw notable improvements in their glycemic index.

During the Summit, Essentiale also announced its launch in Hungary this year under the FestalPro trademark, marking the brand's commitment to the Hungarian market and its mission to advance the early diagnosis and treatment of fatty liver disease worldwide. 

About Essentiale.

Essentiale® is a globally recognised liver health product formulated with essential phospholipids derived from highly purified soybean. Rich in phosphatidylcholine, these phospholipids support the structural integrity of liver cell membranes and the organ’s natural metabolic processes. Essentiale® is used in many markets around the world to support liver health and address functional symptoms associated with liver stress. The brand is part of Opella’s portfolio of consumer health solutions that aim to make self-care simple and effective.

About Opella.

Opella is the self-care challenger with the purest and third-largest portfolio in the Over the counter (OTC) & Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market globally.  Our mission is to bring health in people’s hands by making self-care as simple as it should be. For half a billion consumers worldwide – and counting. At the core of this mission is our 100 loved brands, our 11,000-strong global team, our 13 best-in-class manufacturing sites and 4 specialized science and innovation development centers. Headquartered in France, Opella is the proud maker of many of the world’s most loved brands, including Allegra, Buscopan, Doliprane, Dulcolax, Enterogermina, Essentiale and Mucosolvan. B Corp certified globally, we are active players in the journey towards healthier people and planet.

Find out more about our mission at www.opella.com.

About the EXCEL study.

The new EXCEL study — a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial — shows that Essentiale, containing essential phospholipids, helps reduce liver fat in patients with Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Essentiale reduced liver fat 2.5 times more effectively than standard of care alone (diet and exercise) and significantly improved patient-reported fatigue, a common concern in everyday practice. With a strong safety profile and now the highest level of clinical evidence, Essentiale offers a reliable, well tolerated option — especially for patients with comorbidities like type 2 diabetes or overweight.

About Opella’s Satellite Symposiom at EASL SLD Summit 2026.

Opella’s satellite symposium featured leading European hepatology experts, including:

Prof. Dr. Mária Papp – Understanding MASLD: Unveiling the Hidden Burden of a Silent Epidemic

Prof. Dr. Jörn Schattenberg – Not as Silent as We Think: MASLD’s Impact on Quality of Life

Prof. Dr. Münevver Demir – EXCEL Clinical Trial: Essential Phospholipids in Steatosis and Fatigue Improvement

Prof. Dr. Marek Hartleb – Optimizing Patient Outcomes with Essential Phospholipids in MASLD

[1] Essentiale is the #1 non-prescription liver & bile remedies brand, excluding traditional Chinese

medicines (TCMs) [Nicholas Hall Group of Companies]

[2] Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36626630/

[4] https://e-cmh.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.3350/cmh.2024.0431