Bayesian Modeling with S-PLUS® and the S+flexBayes Library

Bayesian methods are used increasingly across all phases of the pharmaceutical research and development cycle. Examples include early-phase adaptive clinical trial design, population-pk modeling and analysis of safety data in all phases. These applications are driving the need for robust, flexible and novel Bayesian analytics, graphics and reporting software. This article and presentation reviews Insightful Corporation’s approach to providing Bayes analysis software tools and solutions to support the needs of pharmaceutical development. In particular, the Insightful S-PLUS® flexBayes library (S+flexBayes), in conjunction with the collaborative S-PLUS framework, provide statisticians and statistical programmers with a flexible and productive solution for Bayes modeling. Results from these analyses are readily deployed as interactive clinical review graphics or publication reports as part of the Insightful Clinical Review and Reporting Solutions. We illustrate the S-PLUS Bayes modeling and collaborative Clinical Review Solutions with an application of the Berry and Berry (2004) model for analysis of adverse events.