United States securities and exchange commission logo September 22, 2020 John Evans Chief Executive Officer Beam Therapeutics Inc. 26 Landsdowne Street Cambridge, MA 02139 Re: Beam Therapeutics Inc. Draft Registration Statement on Form S-1 Filed September 18, 2020 CIK No. 0001745999 Dear Mr. Evans: This is to advise you that we do not intend to review your registration statement. We request that you publicly file your registration statement no later than 48 hours prior to the requested effective date and time. Please refer to Rules 460 and 461 regarding requests for acceleration. We remind you that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of action by the staff. Please contact Ada D. Sarmento at 202-551-3798 with any questions. Sincerely, Division of Corporation Finance Office of Life Sciences cc: Marc A. Rubenstein, Esq.