diff --git a/bundles/org.pitest.pitclipse.launch/src/org/pitest/pitclipse/launch/config/LaunchConfigurationWrapper.java b/bundles/org.pitest.pitclipse.launch/src/org/pitest/pitclipse/launch/config/LaunchConfigurationWrapper.java
index b500b8a7..403bb405 100644
--- a/bundles/org.pitest.pitclipse.launch/src/org/pitest/pitclipse/launch/config/LaunchConfigurationWrapper.java
+++ b/bundles/org.pitest.pitclipse.launch/src/org/pitest/pitclipse/launch/config/LaunchConfigurationWrapper.java
@@ -26,9 +26,7 @@
 import java.io.File;
 import java.math.BigDecimal;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.List;
-import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import org.eclipse.core.resources.IProject;
 import org.eclipse.core.resources.IResource;
@@ -46,6 +44,7 @@
 import org.pitest.pitclipse.runner.PitOptions;
 import org.pitest.pitclipse.runner.PitOptions.PitOptionsBuilder;
 import org.pitest.pitclipse.runner.config.PitConfiguration;
+import org.pitest.pitclipse.runner.util.PitUtils;
 
 public class LaunchConfigurationWrapper {
 
@@ -214,7 +213,7 @@ private List<String> getExcludedMethods() throws CoreException {
         } else {
             excludedMethods = pitConfiguration.getExcludedMethods();
         }
-        return splitBasedOnComma(excludedMethods);
+        return PitUtils.splitBasedOnComma(excludedMethods);
     }
 
     private List<String> getAvoidCallsTo() throws CoreException {
@@ -224,7 +223,7 @@ private List<String> getAvoidCallsTo() throws CoreException {
         } else {
             avoidCallsTo = pitConfiguration.getAvoidCallsTo();
         }
-        return splitBasedOnComma(avoidCallsTo);
+        return PitUtils.splitBasedOnComma(avoidCallsTo);
     }
 
     private List<String> getExcludedClasses() throws CoreException {
@@ -234,14 +233,7 @@ private List<String> getExcludedClasses() throws CoreException {
         } else {
             excludedClasses = pitConfiguration.getExcludedClasses();
         }
-        return splitBasedOnComma(excludedClasses);
-    }
-
-    private List<String> splitBasedOnComma(String elements) {
-        return Arrays.stream(elements.split(","))
-                .map(String::trim)
-                .filter(s -> !s.isEmpty())
-                .collect(Collectors.toList());
+        return PitUtils.splitBasedOnComma(excludedClasses);
     }
 
     private boolean isIncrementalAnalysis() throws CoreException {
@@ -268,7 +260,7 @@ private List<String> getClassesFromProject() throws CoreException {
     private List<String> getTargetClasses() throws CoreException {
         final String targetClasses = launchConfig.getAttribute(ATTR_TARGET_CLASSES, "");
         return targetClasses.equals("") ? null
-                : new ArrayList<>(splitBasedOnComma(targetClasses));
+                : new ArrayList<>(PitUtils.splitBasedOnComma(targetClasses));
     }
 
     public IResource[] getMappedResources() throws CoreException {
diff --git a/bundles/org.pitest.pitclipse.runner/src/org/pitest/pitclipse/runner/util/PitUtils.java b/bundles/org.pitest.pitclipse.runner/src/org/pitest/pitclipse/runner/util/PitUtils.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c4b6d5cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bundles/org.pitest.pitclipse.runner/src/org/pitest/pitclipse/runner/util/PitUtils.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*******************************************************************************
+ * Copyright 2021 Lorenzo Bettini and contributors
+ *  
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not
+ * use this file except in compliance with the License.  You may obtain a copy
+ * of the License at
+ *  
+ *  http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *  
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+ * WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.  See the
+ * License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under
+ * the License.
+ ******************************************************************************/
+package org.pitest.pitclipse.runner.util;
+
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.stream.Collectors;
+
+/**
+ * @author Lorenzo Bettini
+ *
+ */
+public class PitUtils {
+
+    private PitUtils() {
+        // only static methods
+    }
+
+    public static List<String> splitBasedOnComma(String elements) {
+        return Arrays.stream(elements.split(","))
+                .map(String::trim)
+                .filter(s -> !s.isEmpty())
+                .collect(Collectors.toList());
+    }
+}