PLT Tools: A Graphical Interface for the NONMEM System

Colleagues, Steve Shafer and I are pleased to announce a new release of PLT Tools, version 1.1.0, a Graphical Interface for the NONMEM System. In this new version, graphics are created even if the user has not populated a Graphics Script. This makes it easier to integrate PLT Tools into your NONMEM workflow. The user can tailor these graphics by populating a Graphics Script. Additional changes include improved graphics and minor bug fixes. For those of you not acquainted with PLT Tools, PLT Tools facilitates conduct of NONMEM analyses on either the Windows, Linux, or OS X platforms. PLT Tools is a suite of tools that accomplish the following: • Project Controller: Using a graphical interface, run NONMEM, then automatically create numerous files containing NONMEM outputs and tables, create extensive graphics, and perform various statistical analyses. Folders are created automatically, all source documents are archived, and all files are time-stamped, facilitating Part 11 compliance. Tables created by NONMEM are copied, then reformatted so that they open automatically in Excel. A unique feature is a 1-2 page summary ("Brief Summary") showing the objective function, the number of significant digits, final estimates for thetas (plus standard errors if available), omegas, and sigmas and diagnostics of NONMEM boundary conditions. Examples of these various files are available at PLTsoft.com. • Compare Runs: Compare one or more pairs of runs: – change in the objective function – P value for the likelihood ratio test – line-by-line comparison of the two control streams. The output is a text file that can be inserted as an appendix in a study report. A separate comma-delimited table summarizes differences between runs, objective functions and the change between models, the P value for the likelihood ratio test, the number of non-fixed thetas, etas, and sigmas in each model, and comments entered by the user. Also, the "brief summaries" described above are bundled into a single document which can then be used an an appendix in a study report. • Create Archive: With one click, bundle together the outputs of multiple runs into a time-stamped archive. Ideal for transfer or archiving of a completed project. These tools are facilitated by the following: • Graphics Editor: Using a graphical interface, select options for the creation of graphics. No knowledge of S-Plus/R code is required. • Run Listing Editor: During an analysis, timestamps for all runs are tabulated. Using pull-down menus, select the runs to be used by the Compare Runs and Create Archive Tools. PLT Tools is available via download from PLTsoft.com. The free version provides nearly all features (see Licensing for details). Licensing unlocks the remaining features. Installation is automatic (drag-and- drop), provided that NONMEM VI is already installed. Details, examples, and downloads are available at PLTsoft.com. Dennis Fisher Dennis Fisher MD P < (The "P Less Than" Company) Phone: 1-866-PLessThan (1-866-753-7784) Fax: 1-415-564-2220 www.PLessThan.com