The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Pfizer's talazoparib, marketed as Talzenna, to treat a specific type of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Talazoparib belongs to a class of drugs known as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, which help shrink or slow the growth of specific cancer cells.

The final draft guidance could benefit 300 patients in the UK.

The latest recommendation reverses a prior decision not to recommend the drug for treating adults with breast cancer gene (BRCA) 1 or 2 mutated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer.

Talazoparib is intended for usage in patients who have previously had chemotherapy.

NICE's turnaround comes after Pfizer offered a better discount on talazoparib's price.

The oral medication, taken once a day, presents an alternative to chemotherapy, which often necessitates frequent hospital visits and is associated with side effects.

With the draft guidance expected to become final in February 2024, the development marks NICE's 20th positive recommendation for breast cancer therapies since 2018.

No targeted therapies currently exist to treat this advanced breast cancer type on the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and substitute options are also limited.

Existing treatments comprise chemotherapy, mainly taxanes, and the best supportive care.

Clinical trial data has shown that talazoparib extends the period patients live without cancer progression versus chemotherapy, although it did not show a variation in overall survival.

NICE medicines evaluation Helen Knight stated: “The announcement addresses a significant need by giving people with these types of cancer access to an additional treatment.

“And because talazoparib is taken as a once-daily tablet, it means it’s much more convenient for people who would otherwise need to go into hospital for intravenous chemotherapy. 

“Although some uncertainty in the clinical evidence remains, when considering the impact of advanced breast cancer and its effect on quality and length of life, the improved discount from the company means we can now recommend talazoparib for use in the NHS.”