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Case studies

This page shows Case studies to give you a large perspective on MonolixSuite application. The videos and following up online documentation help to understand the full modeling and simulation workflow – data visualization, model exploration, parameter estimation, simulations and more – and show how to perform it with MonolixSuite.

 

Warfarin PK case study


This video case study shows a simple PK modeling workflow in Monolix2021, with the example of warfarin. It explains the main features and algorithms of Monolix, that guide the iterative process of model building: from validating the structural model to adjusting the statistical model step-by-step.
It includes picking a model from the libraries, choosing initial estimates with the help of population predictions, estimating parameters and uncertainty, and diagnosing the model with interactive plots and statistical tests.

Download data set | example report template

 

Remifentanil PK case study


Remifentanil is an opioid analgesic drug with a rapid onset and rapid recovery time. It is used for sedation as well as combined with other medications for use in general anesthesia. It is given in adults via continuous IV infusion, with doses that may be adjusted to age and weight of patients.
This case-study shows how to use Monolix to build a population pharmacokinetic model for remifentanil in order to determine the influence of subject covariates on the individual parameters.

Link to Remifentanil case study

 

Veralipride double peak PK case study


Multiple peaking in plasma concentration-time curves is not uncommon, and can create difficulties in the determination of pharmacokinetic parameters.
For example, double peaks have been observed in plasma concentrations of veralipride after oral absorption. While multiple peaking can be explained by different physiological processes, in this case site-specific absorption has been suggested to be the major mechanism. In this webinar we explore this hypothesis by setting up a population PK modeling workflow with the MonolixSuite 2018.
The step-by-step workflow includes visualizing the data set to characterize the double peaks, setting up and estimating a double absorption model, assessing the uncertainty of the parameter estimates to avoid over-parameterization, and simulations of the model.

Link to veralipride case study

 

Vanoxerine PK/PD C-QTc case study

Sudden cardiac death is among the most common types of mortality in developed countries. One of the causes is the prolongation of the ventricular re-polarization, that is the QT interval, which can be induced by certain drugs. Vanoxerine is a dopamine uptake inhibitor studied to treat cocaine dependence, but human trials were stopped due to adverse effects on the QT interval. Concentration-QTc analysis is used to asses the risk of new drugs on a cardiac safety. This case study, based on the Vanoxerine example, explains a possible workflow using MonolixSuite applications of the C-QTc modeling and simulations: heart rate QT correction, PKPD model development and analysis of a drug induced QT prolongation. The workflow combines the use of Daxplore for data visualization, Monolix for parameter estimation and Simulx for the QT interval prolongation simulations.

Link to Vanoxerine C-QTc case study

 

Typical PK and PK/PD case studies 

These three case studies show the typical workflow to stepwise model PK and PKPD data sets. The case studies are part of the Pharmacometrics web-based learning resource from the center for translational medicine of the University of Maryland. They are designed for beginners and show the data set formatting and visualization, the development of a structural model, the development of the statistical model including the correlations and covariates, the model diagnosis using plots and results, as well as different approches for PK/PD modeling.

Link to the 3 typical PK and PK/PD case studies.

 

Inter-occasion variability and effect of guar gum on alcohol concentration in blood


This case study uses the MonolixSuite to analyze and model the absorption and elimination of alcohol with or without a dietary additive of guar gum. It focuses in particular on the modeling of inter-occasion variability. The goal of this case study is then to assess the effect of guar gum on the absorption and bioavailability of alcohol.

Link to the alcohol case study

 

Time-to-event (TTE) case study


Within the MonolixSuite, the mlxtran language allows to describe and model time-to-event data using a parametric approach. In our introduction on time-to-event data, we describe the different ways to model this kind of data, typical parametric models, and provide a library of common TTE models.

Two modeling and simulation workflows illustrate this approach, using two TTE data sets:

 

Longitudinal Model-Based Meta-Analysis (MBMA) case study

Longitudinal model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) models can be implemented using the MonolixSuite. These models use study-level aggregate data from the literature and can usually be formulated as non-linear mixed-effects models in which the inter-arm variability and residual error are weighted by the number of individuals per arm. We exemplify the model development and analysis workflow of MBMA models in Monolix using a real data set for rheumatoid arthritis, following publication from Demin et al (2012). In the case study, the efficacy of a drug in development (Canakinumab) is compared to the efficacy of two drugs already on the market (Adalimumab and Abatacept). Simulations using Simulx were used for decision support to see if the new drug has a chance to be a better drug.

Link to MBMA case study

 

Tobramycin dose individualization case study

This case study presents the modeling of the tobramycin pharmacokinetics, and the determination of a priori dosing regimens in patients with various degrees of renal function impairment. It takes advantage of the integrated use of Datxplore for data visualization, Mlxplore for model exploration, Monolix for parameter estimation and Simulx for simulations and best dosing regimen determination.

Link to tobramycin case study