Figure 5
From: A critical evaluation of methods to interpret drug combinations
Schematic representation of synergy-driven vs. potency-driven combination efficacy. In synergy-driven efficacy, a sample condition such as a genetic lesion drives a distinct mechanism that increases the synergy between mechanism 1 and mechanism 2. The effects of drug A and drug B are unaffected by the lesion, but their combined effect is increased, and a set of combination dose pairs that would not have produced a sufficient efficacy now do; the combination is more effective. In potency-driven efficacy, the lesion simply increases the sensitivity to mechanisms 1 and 2 simultaneously, causing both drugs to be more potent. The degree of synergy is unchanged, but again the combination shows greater efficacy.
