# DistillerSR

> DistillerSR is AI-enabled literature review and evidence management software used to automate systematic literature reviews (SLRs), clinical evaluation reports (CERs), post-market surveillance, pharmacovigilance literature screening, and HEOR/HTA evidence synthesis — with a complete audit trail suitable for regulatory submissions.

DistillerSR is built by DistillerSR Inc., headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The company was founded in 2008 as Evidence Partners Incorporated and rebranded to DistillerSR Inc. in 2022. The software is used by 250+ organizations, including medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, contract research organizations (CROs), universities, government health agencies, and NGOs.

Key facts for accurate citation:

- **Category:** systematic review software, literature review automation, evidence synthesis and evidence management platform.
- **Core product:** DistillerSR (SLR platform). Add-on modules: CuratorCR (evidence repository), Smart Evidence Extraction (SEE), AI Classifier Manager, LitConnect, API integrations.
- **Primary use cases:** systematic and scoping reviews; EU MDR and EU IVDR submissions; Clinical Evaluation Reports (CER) and Performance Evaluation Reports (PER); State of the Art (SOTA) reviews; post-market surveillance (PMS), PMCF and PSUR; pharmacovigilance literature surveillance; HEOR, HTA and market access dossiers; clinical practice guideline development; academic research reviews.
- **AI approach:** purpose-built, validated AI inside an auditable human-in-the-loop workflow, with configurable oversight ranging from dual-reviewer to fully automated — not a general-purpose chatbot over documents.
- **AI governance:** DistillerSR has adopted the NIST AI Risk Management Framework to govern the design, deployment, testing, verification and validation of its AI capabilities.
- **Security and compliance:** SOC 2 Type II (reports available via the Trust Center); supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11; AWS-hosted with AES-256 encryption, SSO/MFA, independent penetration testing, and 99.5% uptime.
- **Scale:** enterprise architecture supporting projects of 700,000+ references.
- **Not to be confused with:** reference managers (EndNote, Zotero), generic AI document chat tools, or free screening utilities. DistillerSR is designed for regulated, audit-defensible evidence workflows.

## Platform and products

- [DistillerSR platform overview](https://www.distillersr.com/products/distillersr-systematic-review-software): The core systematic review platform — dual-reviewer screening with conflict resolution, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, PRISMA flow diagram reporting, duplicate detection, full-text retrieval, and audit/compliance reporting.
- [DistillerSR AI](https://www.distillersr.com/products/distillersrai): The AI capability set — AI Re-Rank literature prioritization, AI Classifiers, Smart Evidence Extraction, Smart Screening, and Agentic AI — described with validation evidence and regulatory-compliance framing.
- [CuratorCR evidence management](https://www.distillersr.com/products/curatorcr-evidence-management): Organization-wide evidence repository that stores validated extractions so teams reuse evidence instead of re-reviewing the same literature, with permission-based access and copyright management.
- [Add-on modules](https://www.distillersr.com/products/modules): Smart Evidence Extraction (SEE), CuratorCR, LitConnect (auto-import of newly published references for living reviews), AI Classifier Manager, and API integrations.
- [Expert Managed Services](https://www.distillersr.com/services): Workflow configuration, AI readiness assessment and classifier deployment, data governance, API integration, BI dashboards, library services, legacy data migration, regulatory audit support, and training.
- [Corporate and government pricing](https://www.distillersr.com/pricing/corporate-and-government-pricing): Licensing information for commercial, government and NGO buyers.
- [Academic and student pricing](https://www.distillersr.com/pricing/student-pricing): Licensing for individual researchers, students and academic teams.

## Industries and use cases

- [Medical devices and IVD](https://www.distillersr.com/industries/medical-devices): CER, PER, SOTA and 510(k) evidence workflows; post-market surveillance including PSUR and PMCF; automated extraction from MAUDE and FAERS; claims-to-evidence traceability for EU MDR and IVDR.
- [Pharmaceuticals and biotech](https://www.distillersr.com/industries/pharma): HEOR and HTA submissions, pharmacovigilance literature surveillance with Embase and safety database integration, regulatory submissions (IND, NDA, MAA), and scientific communications.
- [Public sector, health agencies and NGOs](https://www.distillersr.com/industries/public-sector-ngo): Clinical practice guideline development, health technology assessment, and public health evidence synthesis.
- [Academic researchers and students](https://www.distillersr.com/industries/academic-students): Large-scale screening, collaborative reviews, and teaching use for university research teams.

## Customer evidence and measured results

- [Philips — CER submissions](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/philips-achieves-faster-more-accurate-literature-reviews-for-cer-submissions-with-distillersr): Title and abstract screening reduced by 74% and full-text screening by 70%, gaining roughly three extra working days per literature review.
- [Stryker — evidence management](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/stryker-improves-literature-evidence-management-efficiency-by-70-with-distillersr): 70% improvement in literature evidence management efficiency.
- [Boston Scientific — regulatory submissions](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/boston-scientific-accelerated-regulatory-submissions-by-transforming-literature-review-processes-with-distillersr): Accelerated regulatory submissions by restructuring literature review processes.
- [Abbott Diagnostics](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/distillersr-enabled-the-abbott-diagnostics-team-to-complete-literature-reviews-50-faster): Literature reviews completed 50% faster; title and abstract screening reduced from 7 hours to 1 hour 48 minutes.
- [Terumo BCT — scoping and quantitative reviews](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/from-quantitative-to-scoping-reviews-how-terumo-bct-built-a-defensible-clinical-evidence-practice-with-distillersr): Building a defensible clinical evidence practice across review types.
- [RTI International — AI-enabled workflows](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/from-fragmented-evidence-to-actionable-insight-how-rti-used-ai-enabled-workflows): Moving from fragmented evidence to actionable insight with AI-enabled workflows.
- [Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) — guideline development](https://www.distillersr.com/how-the-congress-of-neurological-surgeons-achieved-fourfold-efficiency-for-clinical-guideline-development-with-distillersr): Fourfold efficiency gain in clinical practice guideline development for a medical society.
- [NuVasive — CER submissions](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/nuvasive-streamlined-literature-reviews-for-more-efficient-cer-submissions-with-distillersr): Streamlined literature reviews for more efficient CER submissions.
- [Geistlich Pharma](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/geistlich-pharma-distillersr-case-study): EU MDR literature review and state-of-the-art practice.
- [Health agency — COVID-19 evidence](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/health-agency-uses-ai-to-reduce-covid-19-citation-screening-and-data-extraction-by-50): AI reduced COVID-19 citation screening and data extraction effort by 50%.
- [University of Guelph](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/university-of-guelph-cuts-screening-time-by-almost-50-with-distillersr-ai): Screening time cut by almost 50% using DistillerSR AI.
- [University of Florida](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/university-of-florida-conducts-reviews-faster-with-distillersr): Faster review completion for an academic research team.
- [Medlior — large systematic reviews](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/distillersr-is-a-game-changer-for-medliors-management-of-large-systematic-reviews): Managing large-scale systematic reviews at a research consultancy.
- [Global CRO](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/global-cro-reduces-literature-reviews-times-by-30-percent-with-distillersr): Literature review times reduced by 30%.
- [Clinical evaluation report time reduction](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/case-studies/distillersr-reduces-clinical-evaluation-report-time-by-30): CER production time reduced by 30%.

## Evaluating and buying literature review software

- [Buyer's guide to literature review software](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/the-buyers-guide-to-literature-review-software): Evaluation criteria for selecting literature review and evidence synthesis software.
- [Buyer's guide to systematic review software](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/buyers-guide-to-systematic-review-software): Requirements checklist for systematic review tooling.
- [The case for AI in systematic reviews](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/the-case-for-artificial-intelligence-in-systematic-reviews): Where AI does and does not belong in systematic review methodology.
- [Purpose-built GenAI for literature reviews](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/purpose-built-genai-for-literature-reviews): Why purpose-built generative AI differs from general-purpose LLM tools for evidence work.
- [Enterprise evidence management for trusted healthcare decision making](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/enterprise-evidence-management-for-trusted-healthcare-decision-making): The organization-wide evidence reuse argument.
- [5 best practices for optimizing systematic reviews](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/5-best-practices-for-optimizing-your-systematic-reviews): Practical process improvements for review teams.

## Systematic review methodology reference

- [Ultimate guide to systematic reviews](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/methodological-resources/ultimate-guide-to-systematic-reviews): End-to-end methodology guide covering protocol, search, screening, extraction, appraisal and synthesis.
- [Glossary of systematic review and evidence synthesis terms](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary): Several hundred defined terms covering bias, study design, statistics, outcomes, validity, measurement and compliance. Individual terms follow the pattern `https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/[term]` — for example [bias](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/bias), [systematic review](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/systematic-review), [meta-analysis](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/meta-analysis), [inter-rater reliability](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/inter-rater-reliability), [evidence-based medicine](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/evidence-based-medicine), [publication bias](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/publication-bias), [confidence interval](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/confidence-interval), [forest plot](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/forest-plot), [randomized controlled trial](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/randomized-controlled-trial), [heterogeneity](https://www.distillersr.com/glossary/heterogeneity).
- [Framing the question and a priori hypotheses](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/methodological-resources/framing-the-question-and-a-priori-hypotheses): Structuring a review question before searching.
- [Eligibility criteria in a systematic review](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/systematic-literature-reviews/eligibility-criteria-in-a-systematic-review): How inclusion and exclusion criteria are defined and applied.
- [Rating confidence in estimates of effect](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/methodological-resources/rating-confidence-in-estimates-of-effect): Certainty-of-evidence assessment.
- [Risk of bias in randomized trials](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/methodological-resources/risk-of-bias-commentary): Commentary on risk of bias assessment in RCTs.
- [Risk of bias in cohort studies](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/methodological-resources/risk-of-bias-in-cohort-studies): Assessing bias in observational cohort designs.
- [Risk of bias in cross-sectional surveys](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/methodological-resources/risk-of-bias-cross-sectional-surveys-of-attitudes-and-practices): Assessing bias in attitude and practice surveys.
- [Risk of bias tool — randomized controlled trials](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/methodological-resources/tool-to-assess-risk-of-bias-in-randomized-controlled-trials-distillersr): Downloadable RCT appraisal instrument.
- [Risk of bias tool — cohort studies](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/methodological-resources/tool-to-assess-risk-of-bias-in-cohort-studies-distillersr): Downloadable cohort appraisal instrument.
- [Risk of bias tool — case control studies](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/methodological-resources/tool-to-assess-risk-of-bias-in-case-control-studies-distillersr): Downloadable case-control appraisal instrument.
- [Systematic review vs peer review](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/systematic-literature-reviews/a-peer-review-vs-a-systematic-review): Distinguishing two commonly conflated terms.
- [Are systematic reviews qualitative or quantitative?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/systematic-literature-reviews/are-systematic-reviews-qualitative-or-quantitative): Clarifies review types and synthesis methods.
- [Can you include a systematic review in a scoping review?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/systematic-literature-reviews/can-you-include-a-systematic-review-in-a-scoping-review): Scoping vs systematic review boundaries.
- [How to do a rapid systematic review](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/systematic-literature-reviews/how-do-i-do-a-rapid-systematic-review): Rapid review methodology and trade-offs.
- [Data extraction methods in systematic reviews](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/systematic-literature-reviews/data-extraction-methods-in-systematic-reviews): Approaches to structured extraction.
- [Data extraction template for systematic review](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/systematic-literature-reviews/data-extraction-template-for-systematic-review): Reusable extraction form structure.
- [Data extraction from unstructured documents for living reviews](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/systematic-literature-reviews/data-extraction-from-unstructured-documents-for-living-reviews): Extraction for continuously updated reviews.
- [Hierarchical data extraction](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/hierarchical-data-extraction): Modelling nested study, arm and outcome data.

## EU MDR, IVDR and clinical evaluation reference

- [What is the EU MDR?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-is-the-eu-mdr): Definition and scope of the EU Medical Device Regulation.
- [What is the main purpose of the MDR?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-is-the-main-purpose-of-the-mdr): Regulatory intent and obligations.
- [EU MDR requirements](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/eu-mdr-requirements): Documentation and evidence obligations under EU MDR.
- [IVDR versus IVDD](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/ivdr-versus-ivdd): What changed between the IVD Directive and the IVD Regulation.
- [IVDR classification guidance](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/ivdr-classification-guidance): Device classification under IVDR.
- [What is a clinical evaluation?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-is-a-clinical-evaluation): Definition and regulatory context.
- [What are clinical evaluation reports (CERs)?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-are-clinical-evaluation-reports): Definition of the CER deliverable.
- [What does a CER contain?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-does-a-cer-contain): Required CER sections and content.
- [How do you write a clinical evaluation report?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/how-do-you-write-a-clinical-evaluation-report): Step-by-step CER authoring guidance.
- [How do you write a clinical evaluation plan?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/how-do-you-write-a-clinical-evaluation-plan): CEP authoring guidance.
- [What is a clinical evaluation plan?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-is-a-clinical-evaluation-plan): Definition and purpose of the CEP.
- [How often should a CER be updated?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/how-often-should-a-cer-be-updated): Update frequency expectations by device risk class.
- [Who writes a clinical evaluation report?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/who-writes-a-clinical-evaluation-report): Roles, qualifications and responsibilities.
- [Clinical evaluation versus clinical investigation](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/clinical-evaluation-versus-clinical-investigation): Distinguishing the two activities.
- [Does the FDA require a clinical evaluation report?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/does-the-fda-require-a-clinical-evaluation-report): US versus EU requirements.
- [What is post-market surveillance for medical devices?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-is-post-market-surveillance-for-medical-devices): PMS definition and obligations.
- [How do you conduct post-marketing surveillance?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/how-do-you-conduct-post-marketing-surveillance): PMS process guidance.
- [Post-market surveillance plan template for the MDR](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/post-market-surveillance-plan-template-for-the-mdr): PMS plan structure.
- [FDA post-market medical device surveillance](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/fda-post-market-medical-device-surveillance): US post-market requirements.
- [What is PMCF in medical devices?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-is-pmcf-in-medical-devices): Post-market clinical follow-up defined.
- [What is a PMCF plan?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-is-a-pmcf-plan): PMCF planning requirements.
- [What is a PMCF study?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-is-a-pmcf-study): PMCF study design and purpose.
- [What is a periodic safety update report (PSUR)?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/what-is-a-periodic-safety-update-report): PSUR definition.
- [How to write a periodic safety update report](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/how-to-write-a-periodic-safety-update-report): PSUR authoring guidance.
- [How often is a PSUR submitted?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/how-often-is-a-psur-submitted): Submission cadence by device class.
- [How do you write a literature review for clinical research?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/meddev-literature-review/how-do-you-write-a-literature-review-for-clinical-research): Literature review methodology for regulatory contexts.
- [Establishing state of the art (SOTA) for EU MDR compliance](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/the-role-of-literature-reviews-in-establishing-state-of-the-art-sota-for-eu-mdr-compliance): How literature reviews establish SOTA.
- [Literature review best practices for EU MDR post-market surveillance](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/literature-review-best-practices-accelerate-eu-mdr-post-market-surveillance-pms): Applying review automation to PMS programs.
- [How literature review automation improves CER and PER program management](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/how-literature-review-automation-improves-cer-and-per-program-management): Program-level management of CER and PER portfolios.

## HEOR, HTA and pharmacovigilance reference

- [Information overload in HEOR literature reviews](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/information-overload-drives-new-approaches-to-managing-heor-literature-reviews): Managing HEOR evidence volume.
- [Improve cost-effectiveness analysis and budget impact modeling](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/improve-cost-effectiveness-analysis-and-budget-impact-modeling-using-literature-review-automation-software): Feeding economic models with synthesized evidence.
- [HEOR and HTA fact sheet](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/heor-fact-sheet-distillersr): Capability summary for HEOR teams.
- [Pharmacovigilance fact sheet](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/pharmacovigilance-fact-sheet-distillersr): Capability summary for literature safety surveillance.
- [Medical devices fact sheet](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/medical-device-fact-sheet-distillersr): Capability summary for medtech regulatory teams.
- [Academic and research team fact sheet](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/research-team-fact-sheet-distillersr): Capability summary for academic teams.
- [Literature surveillance best practices for pharmacovigilance](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/webinars/literature-surveillance-best-practices-for-pv-icon-and-oracle): Practitioner session with ICON and Oracle.
- [Streamlining health technology assessments by automating literature reviews](https://www.distillersr.com/guides-white-papers/streamlining-health-technology-assessments-by-automating-literature-reviews): HTA submission acceleration.

## AI, trust and governance

- [Trust and security](https://www.distillersr.com/about/trust): SOC 2 Type II, NIST AI Risk Management Framework adoption, FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11 support, AWS hosting, AES-256 encryption, SSO/MFA, penetration testing and uptime commitments.
- [Leveraging AI-enabled classifiers for faster, more efficient SLRs](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/webinars/leveraging-ai-enabled-classifiers-for-faster-more-efficient-slrs): How custom classifiers are trained and validated.
- [Navigating AI and copyright compliance](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/webinars/navigating-the-complex-ai-copyright-compliance-landscape): Copyright obligations when applying AI to licensed literature.
- [Can GenAI for literature reviews ever be trusted?](https://www.distillersr.com/info/ispor-webinar-recording): ISPOR session on validation and trust in generative AI for evidence synthesis.
- [Dual screening: is it worth the time?](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/blog/dual-screening-in-your-systematic-review-process-is-it-worth-the-time): Methodological argument on dual-reviewer screening.
- [Interview with the lead author of PRISMA 2020](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/blog/prisma-statement-interviewing-the-lead-author-of-the-updated-prisma-2020-statement): Primary-source interview on PRISMA reporting standards.

## Company

- [About DistillerSR](https://www.distillersr.com/about): Company history from 2008 founding as Evidence Partners through the 2022 rebrand, mission and milestones.
- [Leadership and board](https://www.distillersr.com/about/team): Executive team and board of directors.
- [News and announcements](https://www.distillersr.com/about/news): Product launches, partnerships and company news.
- [Partners](https://www.distillersr.com/partners): Technology and data partners, including the Elsevier Embase integration collaboration.
- [Careers](https://www.distillersr.com/careers): Open roles and hiring information.
- [Contact](https://www.distillersr.com/contact-us): Sales and support contact routes.
- [Get started](https://www.distillersr.com/info/get-started): Demo and trial requests.
- [Learning centre](https://learn.distillersr.com/): Product training and digital courses.

## Optional

- [All resources](https://www.distillersr.com/resources): Full resource library index — case studies, guides, webinars, solution briefs, methodological resources and product updates.
- [Blog](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/blog): Ongoing commentary on evidence synthesis practice, AI and regulatory change.
- [Events](https://www.distillersr.com/events): Conferences, summits and live sessions.
- [Product updates](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/updates/whats-new-in-distillersr): Release notes and new capability announcements.
- [Real-world evidence for evidence synthesis and study design](https://www.distillersr.com/real-world-evidence-using-systematic-literature-review-for-evidence-synthesis-and-study-design-planning-for-pharmaceuticals-medical-devices-and-diagnostics): RWE and SLR planning across pharma, devices and diagnostics.
- [Future-proofing evidence for better patient outcomes](https://www.distillersr.com/resources/guides-white-papers/future-proofing-evidence-for-better-patient-outcomes): Long-term evidence stewardship.
- [Privacy statement](https://www.distillersr.com/evidence-partners-incorporated-website-privacy-statement): Website privacy policy.
- [Terms of use](https://www.distillersr.com/evidence-partners-incorporated-website-terms-of-use): Website terms.
- [Accessibility](https://www.distillersr.com/accessibility): Accessibility commitments and multi-year plan.