Free AI-Assisted
Drug Synergy Calculator
Score checkerboard drug combinations with Bliss, Loewe, HSA, and ZIP models, IC50 extraction, and model-disagreement warnings. Built-in AI agent assistant support.
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Key facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Matrix Dimensions | 3×3 to 6×6 checkerboard grids |
| Input Data Modes | % Viability (default) or % Inhibition |
| Concentration Units | µM, nM, mg/mL |
| Synergy Models | Bliss Independence, Loewe Additivity, HSA, ZIP |
| Statistical Metrics | Mean score, Standard Error (SE), 95% Confidence Interval (CI), p-value |
| Parameter Extraction | Monotherapy 4-Parameter Logistic (4PL) IC50 fitting |
| Execution & Privacy | 100% Client-side browser calculation (no server uploads) |
| AI & API Support | Built-in workspace assistant and external agent access via MCP (pepkio_synergy-matrix-lab) |
What it does
Cancer pharmacology and drug discovery labs frequently rely on legacy desktop software or fragile spreadsheets to analyze checkerboard drug combination assays. Synergy Matrix Lab converts raw cell viability or inhibition grids into multi-model synergy scores, generating monotherapy dose-response curves, statistical significance metrics, and publication-ready heatmaps instantly in your browser.
Researchers enter or paste tab-separated checkerboard matrix data directly from Microsoft Excel or microplate readers. You can label Drug A (row concentrations) and Drug B (column concentrations), select concentration units (µM, nM, or mg/mL), and toggle between percentage cell viability and percentage inhibition. The calculator automatically handles baseline normalization, converts viability scales (V = 100 - I), and validates cell entries in real time to catch non-numeric errors before running calculations.
Upon calculation, the tool fits 4-parameter logistic (4PL) curves to single-agent reference arms to derive Drug A and Drug B IC50 values. It simultaneously computes Bliss, Loewe, HSA, and ZIP synergy scores for every dose pair, producing a unified multi-model comparison table complete with standard error, 95% confidence intervals, and two-tailed p-values. Results include color-coded heatmaps, model agreement flags, a ready-to-cite methods paragraph, and one-click CSV and PNG exports.
Why researchers use it
- Compute Bliss, Loewe, HSA, and ZIP scores simultaneously in one browser workspace
- Paste checkerboard grids directly from Excel without rigid template formatting requirements
- Evaluate standard error, 95% confidence intervals, and p-values for all models
- Flag model disagreement before selecting a primary synergy score for publication
- Extract monotherapy IC50 parameters automatically from monotherapy reference rows and columns
- Export publication-ready heatmap PNGs, tab-separated CSV matrices, and manuscript methods text
Best for
- Evaluating combination drug responses in 3×3 to 6×6 checkerboard microplate assays
- Comparing Bliss Independence versus Loewe Additivity verdicts on identical cell viability data
- Fitting single-agent monotherapy IC50 values alongside combination synergy matrices
- Generating color-coded heatmaps and statistical summary tables for journal submissions
- Teaching pharmacology students how different reference models interpret combination effect data
When to use this vs alternatives
Choose Synergy Matrix Lab when you need rapid, multi-model checkerboard synergy scoring with statistical confidence intervals and publication figures directly in your web browser. If your workflow involves fitting non-linear dose-response curves for single compounds without matrix interactions, use Dose Curve Fitter. If you need compound salt form corrections or unit conversions before dilution, use Pharmacology Unit Converter. For high-throughput desktop folder batch pipelines, desktop Combenefit or R packages may still be preferable.
What makes it different
Traditional drug synergy tools often suffer from platform restriction, cumbersome file uploads, or single-model limitation. Legacy tools like CompuSyn and Combenefit are Windows-bound, while SynergyFinder web uploads are format-sensitive and can disagree with desktop software on identical plates. Spreadsheets implement one model at a time with no statistical validation.
Synergy Matrix Lab is a free, cross-platform browser workspace that scores Bliss, Loewe, HSA, and ZIP in parallel, surfaces model disagreement with explicit warning banners, validates input with readable feedback, and exports methods text plus publication heatmaps—without sending your matrix data to external servers.
How to get started
- Select your input format by clicking % Viability or % Inhibition, and enter your Drug A (rows) and Drug B (columns) names.
- Choose your Concentration unit (µM, nM, or mg/mL) and grid dimensions (3×3 to 6×6).
- Paste your matrix data from Excel or click Load example data to prefill a 5×5 docetaxel and paclitaxel dataset.
- Select your desired synergy models (Bliss, Loewe, HSA, and ZIP) and click Calculate synergy.
- Review IC50 cards, model comparison tables, and tabbed heatmaps, then click Export CSV, Download PNG, or Copy methods text.
Frequently asked questions
Which synergy model should I report in my publication?
Why do Loewe and ZIP models require zero-concentration monotherapy arms?
How does the tool handle statistical significance and confidence intervals?
Is my experimental dose-response data uploaded to external servers?
Can I use an AI agent or MCP with Synergy Matrix Lab?
Client source code & registry
Last updated . Pepkio builds free lab calculators alongside bioinformatics CRO services.