Talzenna (talazoparib): What to Expect, Side Effects, and More
Talzenna (chemical name: talazoparib) is a medicine called a PARP inhibitor. PARP inhibitors cause some cancer cells to die by making it hard for the cells to make repairs when there is damage.
You may be prescribed Talzenna if a genetic test reveals that you have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and you:
have breast cancer that has spread to nearby tissue (also called locally advanced)
have breast cancer that has spread to distant organs (also called metastatic)
See Talzenna prescribing information.
How Talzenna works
Talzenna blocks the ability of cancer cells to repair DNA damage, making it harder for the cells to survive.
DNA carries genetic information in both healthy cells and cancer cells. Cells can develop DNA damage spontaneously or from exposure to specific things in the environment (too much sun, for example). Most healthy cells can detect and repair damage to DNA — thanks to an enzyme called poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). If DNA damage isn’t fixed, the cell can become cancerous.
BRCA genes also help breast cells to grow normally by repairing damaged DNA. If there is a mutation in the gene, it increases the risk of breast and other cancers because these gene mutations interfere with cells’ ability to repair damaged DNA.
Talzenna makes it so that cancer cells with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation aren't able to fix DNA damage in those cells, making it less likely the cells survive. The medication also interferes with DNA repairs in healthy cells.
What to expect during Talzenna treatment
Talzenna is a pill, taken by mouth. The recommended starting dose of Talzenna is a 1 mg tablet taken once per day, with or without food.
Talzenna side effects
Like almost all breast cancer medicines, Talzenna can cause side effects, some of them severe.
The most common side effects of Talzenna are:
thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts)
Talzenna also can cause other serious side effects, including:
myelodysplastic syndrome, a disorder in which immature blood cells in blood marrow do not become healthy blood cells
acute myeloid leukemia, a type of blood and bone marrow cancer
Your doctor will closely monitor your blood cell counts during treatment. While low red and white blood cell counts are common side effects of Talzenna, they also can be symptoms of myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia. Tell your doctor right away if you have:
weakness
fever
blood in your urine or stool
extreme tiredness
weight loss
frequent infections
shortness of breath
bruising or bleeding more easily
Exposure to this medication could cause birth defects, so you should not take this drug while pregnant. You also shouldn’t breastfeed until at least one month after treatment concludes.
Real patient reviews
Members of our community discuss their experiences with Talzenna in the community forum. Here are some of their comments. Remember, it's very important to talk to your doctor about any side effects you're having and ask about ways to manage them.
“I had a 5 cm tumor and chemo was suggested first to shrink the tumor. 12 rounds of Taxol/carboplatin each week, then 27 days of Talzenna. It shrunk my tumor by half.” —katg
“I was on Talazoparib (talzenna) on a clinical trial for almost a year and had a very good quality of life while taking the drug.” —theresa45
Read more in our Talzenna (talazoparib) discussion forum.
Paying for Talzenna
The cost of Talzenna may vary. The price you’ll pay depends on the drug manufacturer, your health insurance provider and plan, where you live, and the pharmacy you use.
Note: Your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization before covering Talzenna.
Pfizer Oncology Together may be able to help.
Learn more about financial assistance and medicine cost-lowering tips.
Talzenna (talazoparib) prescribing information. Pfizer. New York, NY. 2018. Available at: https://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=11046.
— Last updated on March 1, 2025 at 10:50 PM
