Talzenna

Talzenna is a prescription medication used to treat locally advanced or metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer with an inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Locally advanced breast cancer is cancer that has spread to tissues near the breast, whereas metastatic cancer has spread to other parts of the body away from the breast.

Talzenna belongs to a group of drugs called poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. The PARP enzyme fixes DNA damage in both healthy and cancer cells. PARP inhibitors, like Talzenna, interfere with the PARP enzyme so that cancer cells with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation are unable to fix DNA damage. These damaged cells are less likely to survive.

This medication comes in capsule form and is taken once daily, with or without food. Swallow Talzenna capsules whole. Do not chew, divide, or break Talzenna capsules.

Common side effects of Talzenna include low red blood cell count, low white blood cell count, and nausea/vomiting. Talzenna can also cause extreme tiredness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Talzenna affects you.