Skip to main content

What type of drug is Talzenna?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on July 3, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Talzenna (talazoparib) is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor that blocks PARP, a protein that is involved with cancer cell growth, regulation and repair. PARP inhibitors stop the cancer cells from being repaired which leads to cell death and a reduction in tumor growth.

PARP inhibitors are used to treat cancers that have mistakes in their DNA repair genes, such as with the BRCA gene mutation. PARP inhibitors are used to treat cancers such as: ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, pancreatic cancer, peritoneal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Talzenna (talazoparib) is a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of adults:

  • with a locally advanced or metastatic BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]-negative breast cancer. This cancer has low or no amounts of HER2 protein, an abnormal inherited gene called BRCA and has spread to other parts of the body (locally advanced or metastatic). Your doctor will determine if you can use this treatment based on an FDA-approved diagnostic test.
  • with a certain abnormal inherited or acquired gene (homologous recombination repair (HRR), metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), in combination with enzalutamide (Xtandi). Castration-resistant prostate cancer no longer responds to a hormone therapy or surgical treatment to lower testosterone and metastatic means it has spread to other parts of the body.
  • It is given as a once-daily oral treatment and can be taken with or without food.

Other PARP inhibitors include:

This is not all the information you need to know about Talzenna (talazoparib) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

For a complete list of side effects, please refer to the individual drug monographs.

Related questions

References

Read next

What happens when you stop taking letrozole?

When you stop taking letrozole, side effects such as swelling, cough, hot flashes, and nausea, should improve within a week or 10 days. Some, such as high cholesterol, bone loss, and hair thinning may take many months to resolve. As long as you have taken it for at least 5 years, then letrozole should continue to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back for many years after you stop taking it. Letrozole is usually taken for 5 years, but may be recommended for up to 10 years depending on individual circumstances. Continue reading

What is the success rate of Keytruda?

In general, PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors like Keytruda have been shown to significantly prolong overall survival (OS) in some patients with various cancer types, but Keytruda does not always work for everyone. Continue reading

How do you relieve joint pain associated with tamoxifen or Aromasin?

While pain relievers such as acetaminophen and NSAIDs can help relieve the pain, NSAIDs themselves have their side effects and should not be taken long-term unless under a doctor's advice. Continue reading

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups