Multiple – combination

The term "Multiple – combination" is a non-specific designation used to describe therapeutic strategies that involve more than one molecular target. It does not refer to a single receptor, enzyme, or protein, but rather to the practice of using multiple drugs (combination therapy) or a single drug with multiple targets (polypharmacology) to achieve a therapeutic effect (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2005; https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd1859). This strategy is common in treating multifaceted diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and hypertension, where targeting several pathways can lead to synergistic benefits or prevent the development of resistance (NCBI StatPearls, 2023; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532871/). In pharmacological databases, this label serves as a placeholder for treatments that cannot be mapped to a single discrete entity. Consequently, it lacks specific biological properties, such as a unique amino acid sequence or a singular physiological role, and is generally considered an incorrect entry for a specific target profile (FDA, 2022; https://www.fda.gov/drugs/pharmaceutical-quality-resources/combination-products).

Other names

Combination therapyMulti-target therapyPolypharmacologyFixed-dose combination

The mechanism of action is not singular; it involves the concurrent modulation of multiple distinct biological pathways or molecular entities to achieve a synergistic or additive therapeutic effect (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2005; https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd1859).