Overview
Talzenna is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adults with metastatic (advanced) castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) that carries mutations (variations) in genes responsible for homologous recombination repair (HRR). It is used in combination with the drug enzalutamide. When taking this medication, a person must also be receiving a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog or have had a bilateral orchiectomy (surgical removal of both testicles). Talzenna is also known by its drug name, talazoparib.

Talzenna is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor. It is believed to work by stopping cancer cells from repairing their DNA, especially in tumors with defective DNA repair genes, leading to cancer cell death.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Talzenna is taken orally once daily, with or without food, alongside enzalutamide. Treatment continues until the disease progresses or side effects become unmanageable. Talzenna should be taken exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Talzenna when used with enzalutamide include anemia (low red blood cell count), neutropenia and lymphopenia (low white blood cell count), fatigue, thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), low calcium levels, nausea, decreased appetite, low sodium and phosphate levels, bone fractures, low magnesium and potassium levels, dizziness, increased bilirubin, and dysgeusia (changes in taste).

Rare but serious side effects may include myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia (types of blood cancers), which can be fatal. Talzenna may also cause severe myelosuppression (bone marrow suppression), leading to dangerously low blood cell levels. Talzenna can harm an unborn baby and should not be used during pregnancy.

For more information about this treatment, visit:
Talzenna (Talazoparib) Capsules, for Oral Use — Pfizer