PLTsoft is pleased to announce the release of PLT Tools version 3.0, software tools to facilitate the conduct of NONMEM* analyses on either the Windows, Linux, or OS X platforms. PLT Tools has undergone many enhancements since the initial release in 2008.

PLT Tools is a suite of tools that accomplish the following:

• Project Controller: Using a graphical interface (image appears below), run NONMEM, 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 (and standard errors if available) for thetas, omegas, and sigmas and diagnostics of NONMEM boundary conditions. Examples can be downloaded. Informative warning/error messages supplement (obscure) messages from NONMEM. The Project Controller enables the user to run NONMEM in the normal mode (estimation or simulation) or to run a Covariate Search, Visual Predictive Check, a Bootstrap analysis, a Likelihood Profile, or a Jackknife analysis. In addition, a window appears on the user's desktop to display real-time updates of the objective function and parameters (image appears below).

• Compare Runs / Assemble Report: This tool enables the user to compile text, tables, and images that summarize a NONMEM analysis. One table compares pairs of NONMEM runs (change in the objective function and the P value for the likelihood ratio test; these comparisons are also displayed graphically in a flowchart. Additional tables summarize data (e.g., number of observations, doses / subjects; Cmax, Tmax), covariates (separate tables for continuous and categorical covariates), and population and post hoc parameters for individual runs. In addition, PLT Tools assembles these tables and images into a formatted RTF document (which can be opened in Word) that provides most of the elements for a report; a sample report can be downloaded.

• Create Archive: With one click, bundle together the outputs of one run or multiple runs into a time-stamped archive. Ideal for transfer or archiving of a ongoing or 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 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.
• Control Stream Editor: The user can edit a control stream directly from PLT Tools. Or, access your preferred editor directly from PLT Tools.
• Control Stream Library: The user can access a library of control streams, then edit the control streams for their own use.

PLT Tools is available via download from this website. The free version provides nearly all features (see Licensing for details). Licensing unlocks the remaining features.

* NONMEM is a registered trademark of the Regents of the University of California. Licenses for NONMEM can be obtained from Icon Development Solutions.

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