PTC

PTC is an acronym that may refer to several different organizations and technologies. It most commonly denotes Parametric Technology Corporation, a U.S.-based software company known for its CAD/CAM and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, including Creo, Windchill, and ThingWorx.

In transportation, Positive Train Control (PTC) is a safety system designed to prevent certain types of accidents, such as train collisions, overspeed derailments, and incorrect routing. In the United States, PTC was mandated by federal law to improve rail safety and relies on interoperable communication between locomotives, wayside devices, and dispatch centers, using GPS and wireless networks to automatically slow or stop trains as required.

PTC Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focusing on rare genetic disorders. Its research programs have centered on therapies for nonsense mutation diseases, with ataluren (formerly PTC124) as a lead candidate intended to address stop codon–related conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy in certain markets.

Other uses of the acronym PTC may exist in various fields, but the above three are among the most commonly encountered.