Earli tackles the #1 problem in the $100B cancer drug market: systemic toxicity. On-target/off-tumor effects force suboptimal dosing, reduced efficacy and sidelining some of the most potent drug classes such as cytokines. Earli’s BioAI approach flips this paradigm: Drugs are produced only where needed—in the tumor, by the tumor, against the tumor. Cancer cells become their own drug factories, enabling localized immune activation, even in cold tumors.
This was enabled by three core innovations:
- Extrahepatic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that reach tumors such as lung cancer
- AI-designed genetic switches that activate only in malignant cells by sensing transcription factor dysregulation
- Local production of immune therapies (TCEs, cytokines, multispecifics) at the tumor site — “produce locally, consume locally”
Together, these technologies create a new biological control layer, allowing tumors to self-identify and trigger their own targeted immune attack—achieving specificity beyond current targeted or IO therapies.
Earli plans to enter the clinic by mid-2027 with a Phase 1/2 lung cancer trial. The company is backed by a16z, Khosla, Perceptive, Alex Gorsky, Marc Benioff, Breyer, Emerson Collective, Sands Capital and others. The SAB includes Jim Allison (Nobel Laureate, MD Anderson), Bob Langer (Co-founder Moderna, MIT), Phil Greenberg (Co-founder Juno), Amy Abernethy (frm. Principal Deputy FDA Commissioner), Bill Hait (former J&J EVP Oncology R&D), and Alan Ashworth (President UCSF Cancer Center). The leadership team brings deep gene therapy, LNP, CMC and tech experience; CEO Cyriac Roeding previously led a $250M (11x return) exit.
Who You Are
- You share our same sense of dedication, scientific passion and entrepreneurial spirit
- You work well in a fast-paced and extremely focused startup environment
- You are not only smart, but clever and constantly think outside the box
- You are able to make logical decisions in an instant when there is little time to evaluate
- You are a natural communicator and relationship builder
- You stay calm under high pressure and stress
- You have the ability to multi-task in a serious way, with an extreme attention to detail
- You become a representative of the core DNA of the company through who you are
The Position
This is a general submission form to join the Earli Talent Community. If you are interested in working at Earli but don't see a current opening that aligns with your skills and background we're always on the lookout for great people who are interested in working with us or who are interested in potential upcoming internship opportunities available in our lab.
If interested in applying, please attach a CV or have a well-developed LinkedIn profile for us to be able to assess your background.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Skills Required
- Attach a CV or provide a well-developed LinkedIn profile
- Dedication and scientific passion
- Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to work in a fast-paced startup
- Ability to make quick, logical decisions with limited information
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Calmness under high pressure and stress
- Ability to multi-task with extreme attention to detail
- Creative, outside-the-box problem solving
What We Do
Earli mission is to make cancer a benign experience. Rather than rely on biomarkers that cancer may - or often may not - naturally provide, Earli's technology *forces* cancer cells to make a synthetic, non-human biomarker using gene therapy approaches. It's called a Synthetic Biopsy. It can then localize the cancer in a PET scanner. Earli has been funded by Andreessen Horowitz's Bio Fund, Khosla, Perceptive Advisors, Casdin Capital, Sands Capital, Marc Benioff, Menlo Ventures, ZhenFund. Earli is based in the West Coast’s prime biotech hub in South San Francisco.
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