Talazoparib
Talazoparib is a PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase) inhibitor used to treat certain cancers, particularly breast cancer in patients with BRCA gene mutations. It works by blocking DNA repair mechanisms in cancer cells, leading to cell death, especially in tumors that already have defective DNA repair pathways.
Talazoparib is a targeted cancer therapy that inhibits DNA repair in tumor cells with BRCA mutations, used primarily for advanced breast cancer.
Key facts at a glance
- ATC
- L01XK04
- RxNorm
- 2099704
- Generic
- Talazoparib
- Class
- atc-l01
- Brands
- Talzenna
- Availability
- rx
- Lactation
- unknown
- Routes
- oral
- Forms
- capsule
- Regions
- US, EU, CN, JP
- Monitoring
- —
This page is for informational purposes only.
Do not use this information to diagnose yourself or to replace a physician's advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately.
Talazoparib is FDA-approved for the treatment of adults with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It is also being studied in other solid tumors with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), including ovarian and prostate cancers.
Talazoparib inhibits PARP1 and PARP2 enzymes, which are essential for DNA single-strand break repair. In cancer cells with pre-existing DNA repair defects (such as BRCA mutations), blocking PARP leads to accumulation of double-strand breaks during DNA replication, resulting in synthetic lethality—meaning the cancer cells cannot survive the combined loss of these repair pathways.
Common side effects include anemia, fatigue, nausea, and bone marrow suppression. Talazoparib can cause fetal harm; effective contraception is required during treatment and for a period after the last dose. Regular blood count monitoring is necessary during therapy. Patients should be confirmed BRCA-mutated through FDA-approved testing before initiating treatment.
Official drug label
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed July 26, 2026. · Read our editorial policy