Document:

EX-10.16

 Exhibit 10.16 

BEAM THERAPEUTICS INC. 

2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN 
 1. DEFINED
TERMS 
 Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference, defines the terms used in the Plan and includes certain operational rules
related to those terms. 
 2. PURPOSE 

The Plan has been established to advance the interests of the Company by providing for the grant to Participants of Stock, Stock-based and
other incentive Awards. 
 3. ADMINISTRATION 

The Plan will be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator has discretionary authority, subject only to the express provisions of
the Plan, to administer and interpret the Plan and any Award; to determine eligibility for and grant Awards; to determine the exercise price, base value from which appreciation is measured, or purchase price, if any, applicable to any Award; to
determine, modify or waive the terms and conditions of any Award; to determine the form of settlement of Awards (whether in cash, shares of Stock, other Awards or other property); to prescribe forms, rules and procedures relating to the Plan and
Awards; and to otherwise do all things necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the Plan or any Award. Determinations of the Administrator made with respect to the Plan or any Award are conclusive and bind all persons. 

4. LIMITS ON AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN 

(a) Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7(b), the maximum number of shares of Stock
that may be issued in satisfaction of Awards under the Plan is 3,700,000 shares (the “Initial Share Pool”), plus the number of shares of Stock underlying awards under the Prior Plan (which shall not exceed 5,639,818 shares) that on or
after the Date of Adoption expire or are terminated, surrendered or cancelled without issuance of shares, are forfeited to, or repurchased by, the Company, are withheld upon exercise or settlement to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, or
otherwise become available again for grant under the Prior Plan, in each case, in accordance with its terms. The Initial Share Pool will automatically increase on January 1st of each year from
2020 to 2029 by the lesser of (i) four percent of the number of shares of Stock outstanding as of the close of business on the immediately preceding December 31st and (ii) the number of
shares of Stock determined by the Board on or prior to such date for such year (the Initial Share Pool, as it may be so increased, the “Share Pool”). Up to 3,700,000 shares of Stock from the Share Pool may be issued in satisfaction of
ISOs, but nothing in this Section 4(a) will be construed as requiring that any, or any fixed number of, ISOs be awarded under the Plan. For purposes of this Section 4(a), shares of Stock shall not be treated as issued under the Plan, and
will not reduce the Share Pool, unless and until, and to the extent, they are actually issued to a Participant. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the number of shares of Stock issued in satisfaction of Awards will be determined
(i) by excluding shares of Stock withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price or purchase price of the Award or in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements with respect to the Award, (ii) by including

  
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only the number of shares of Stock issued in settlement of a SAR any portion of which is settled in Stock, and (iii) by excluding any shares of Stock underlying Awards settled in cash or
that expire, become unexercisable, terminate or are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company without the issuance of Stock. For the avoidance of doubt, the Share Pool will not be increased by any shares of Stock issued under the Plan that are
subsequently repurchased using proceeds directly attributable to Stock Option exercises. The limits set forth in this Section 4(a) will be construed to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 422. 

(b) Substitute Awards. The Administrator may grant Substitute Awards under the Plan. To the extent
consistent with the requirements of Section 422 and the regulations thereunder and other applicable legal requirements (including applicable stock exchange requirements), Stock issued under Substitute Awards will be in addition to and will not
reduce the Share Pool, but, notwithstanding anything in Section 4(a) to the contrary, if any Substitute Award is settled in cash or expires, becomes unexercisable, terminates or is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company without the issuance
of Stock, the shares of Stock previously subject to such Award will not increase the Share Pool or be available for future issuance under the Plan. The Administrator will determine the extent to which the terms and conditions of the Plan apply to
Substitute Awards, if at all, provided, however, that Substitute Awards will not be subject to the limits described in Section 4(d) below. 

(c) Type of Shares. Stock issued by the Company under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Stock, treasury
Stock or previously issued Stock acquired by the Company. No fractional shares of Stock will be issued under the Plan. 
 (d)
Individual Limits. 
 (1) The following additional limits apply to Awards of the specified type granted to any Participant
in any calendar year: 
 (A) Stock Options: 750,000 shares of Stock. 

(B) SARs: 750,000 shares of Stock. 

(C) Awards other than Stock Options and SARs: 500,000 shares of Stock. 

In applying the foregoing limits, (i) all Awards of the specified type granted to the same person in the same calendar year are
aggregated and made subject to one limit; (ii) the limits applicable to Stock Options and SARs refer to the number of shares of Stock underlying those Awards; and (iii) the share limit under clause (C) refers to the maximum number of
Shares that may be issued, or the value of which may be paid in cash or other property, under an Award or Awards of the type specified in clause (C) assuming a maximum payout. 

(2) Director Limits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate value of all compensation granted to or paid to
any Director with respect to any calendar year, including Awards granted under the Plan and cash fees or other compensation paid by the Company to such Director outside of the Plan, in each case, for his or her services as a Director during such
calendar year, may not exceed $750,000 in the aggregate ($1,000,000 in the aggregate with respect to a Director’s first year of service on the Board), calculating the value of any Awards based on the grant date fair value in accordance with the
Accounting Rules, assuming a maximum payout. 

  
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 5. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION 

The Administrator shall select Participants from among key Employees and Directors of, and consultants and advisors to, the Company and its
subsidiaries. Eligibility for ISOs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are employees of the Company or of a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company as those
terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code. Eligibility for Stock Options, other than ISOs, and SARs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are providing direct services on the date of grant of
the Award to the Company or to a subsidiary of the Company that would be described in the first sentence of Treas. Regs. §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E). 

6. RULES APPLICABLE TO AWARDS 
 (a)
All Awards. 
 (1) Award Provisions. The Administrator shall determine the terms and conditions of
all Awards, subject to the limitations provided herein. By accepting (or, under such rules as the Administrator may prescribe, being deemed to have accepted) an Award, the Participant will be deemed to have agreed to the terms and conditions of the
Award and the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, Substitute Awards may contain terms and conditions that are inconsistent with the terms and conditions specified herein, as determined by the Administrator. 

(2) Term of Plan. No Awards may be made after 10 years from the Date of Adoption, but previously granted Awards
may continue beyond that date in accordance with their terms. 
 (3) Transferability. Neither ISOs nor, except
as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), other Awards may be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During a Participant’s
lifetime, ISOs and, except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), SARs and NSOs may be exercised only by the Participant. The Administrator may permit the gratuitous
transfer (i.e., transfer not for value) of Awards other than ISOs, subject to applicable securities and other laws and such limitations as the Administrator may impose. 

(4) Vesting, etc. The Administrator shall determine the time or times at which an Award vests or becomes
exercisable and the terms and conditions on which a Stock Option or SAR remains exercisable. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting and/or exercisability of an Award (or any portion thereof),
regardless of any adverse or potentially adverse tax or other consequences resulting from such acceleration. Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, however, the following rules will apply if a Participant’s Employment ceases:

 (A) Except as provided in (B) and (C) below, immediately upon the cessation of the Participant’s
Employment each Stock Option and SAR (or portion thereof) that is then held by the Participant or by the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, will cease to be exercisable and will terminate and each other Award that is then held by the
Participant or by the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, to the extent not then vested will be forfeited. 

  
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 (B) Subject to (C) and (D) below, each vested and unexercised
Stock Option and SAR (or portion thereof) held by the Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment, to the extent then exercisable, will remain
exercisable for the lesser of (i) a period of three months following such cessation of Employment or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this
Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon immediately terminate. 
 (C) Subject to (D) below, each vested and
unexercised Stock Option and SAR (or portion thereof) held by a Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment due to his or her death, to the extent then
exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) the one-year period ending on the first anniversary of the Participant’s death or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which
such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon immediately terminate. 

(D) All Awards (whether or not vested or exercisable) held by a Participant or the Participant’s permitted
transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment will immediately terminate upon such cessation of Employment if the termination is for Cause or occurs in circumstances that in the determination of the
Administrator would have constituted grounds for the Participant’s Employment to be terminated for Cause (in each case, without regard to the lapsing of any required notice or cure periods in connection therewith). 

(5) Recovery of Compensation. The Administrator may provide in any case that any outstanding Award (whether or not vested
or exercisable), the proceeds from the exercise or disposition of any Awards or Stock acquired under any Award, and any other amounts received in respect of any Award or Stock acquired under any Award will be subject to forfeiture and disgorgement
to the Company, with interest and other related earnings, (i) if the Participant to whom the Award was granted is not in compliance with any provision of the Plan or any applicable Award, any
non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, non-disparagement, confidentiality, invention
assignment, or other restrictive covenant by which he or she is bound, or any policy of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is applicable to the Participant and that provides for forfeiture, disgorgement, or clawback with respect to
incentive compensation that includes Awards under the Plan; or (ii) to the extent required by law or applicable stock exchange listing standards, including, without limitation, Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Each Participant, by accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, agrees or will be deemed to have agreed to cooperate fully with the Administrator, and to cause any and all permitted transferees of the Participant to
cooperate fully 

  
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with the Administrator, to effectuate any forfeiture or disgorgement described in this Section 6(a)(5). Neither the Administrator nor the Company nor any other person, other than the
Participant and his or her permitted transferees, if any, will be responsible for any adverse tax or other consequences to a Participant or his or her permitted transferees, if any, that may arise in connection with this Section 6(a)(5). 

(6) Taxes. The issuance, delivery, vesting and retention of Stock, cash or other property under an Award are
conditioned upon the full satisfaction by the Participant of all tax and other withholding requirements with respect to the Award. The Administrator shall prescribe such rules for the withholding of taxes and other amounts with respect to any Award
as it deems necessary. The Administrator may hold back shares of Stock from an Award or permit a Participant to tender previously owned shares of Stock in satisfaction of tax or other withholding requirements (but not in excess of the maximum
withholding amount consistent with the award being subject to equity accounting treatment under the Accounting Rules). Any amounts withheld pursuant to this Section 6(a)(6) will be treated as though such payment had been made directly to the
Participant. 
 (7) Dividend Equivalents, Etc. The Administrator may provide for the payment of amounts (on
terms and subject to conditions established by the Administrator) in lieu of cash dividends or other cash distributions with respect to Stock subject to an Award whether or not the holder of such Award is otherwise entitled to share in the actual
dividend or distribution in respect of such Award; provided, however, that (a) dividends or dividend equivalents relating to an Award that, at the dividend payment date, remains subject to a risk of forfeiture (whether service-based or
performance-based) shall be subject to the same risk of forfeiture as applies to the underlying Award and (b) no dividends or dividend equivalents shall be payable with respect to Stock Options or SARs. Any entitlement to dividend equivalents
or similar entitlements will be established and administered either consistent with an exemption from, or in compliance with, the requirements of Section 409A. 

(8) Rights Limited. Nothing in the Plan or any Award will be construed as giving any person the right to be
granted an Award or to continued employment or service with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any rights as a stockholder except as to shares of Stock actually issued under the Plan. The loss of existing or potential profit in any Award
will not constitute an element of damages in the event of a termination of a Participant’s Employment for any reason, even if the termination is in violation of an obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to the Participant. 

(9) Coordination with Other Plans. Awards under the Plan may be granted in tandem with, or in satisfaction of or
substitution for, other Awards under the Plan or awards made under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. For example, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, awards under other compensatory
plans or programs of the Company or any of its subsidiaries may be settled in Stock (including, without limitation, Unrestricted Stock) under the Plan if the Administrator so determines, in which case the shares will be treated as issued under the
Plan (and will reduce the number of shares thereafter available for issuance under the Plan in accordance with the rules set forth in Section 4). 

  
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 (10) Section 409A. 

(A) Without limiting the generality of Section 11(b) hereof, each Award will contain such terms as the
Administrator determines and will be construed and administered, such that the Award either qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A or satisfies such requirements. 

(B) Notwithstanding Section 9 of this Plan or any other provision of this Plan or any Award agreement to the
contrary, the Administrator may unilaterally amend, modify or terminate the Plan or any outstanding Award, including but not limited to changing the form of the Award, if the Administrator determines that such amendment, modification or termination
is necessary or advisable to avoid the imposition of an additional tax, interest or penalty under Section 409A. 

(C) If a Participant is determined on the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment to be a
“specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then, with regard to any payment that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A, to the extent applicable, payable on
account of a “separation from service”, such payment will be made or provided on the date that is the earlier of (i) the first business days following the expiration of the six-month period
measured from the date of such “separation from service” and (ii) the date of the Participant’s death (the “Delay Period”). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this
Section 6(a)(10)(C) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single lump sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) will be paid on the first business day following the expiration of the Delay Period in a lump sum and any
remaining payments due under the Award will be paid in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them in the applicable Award agreement. 

(D) For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Plan will be treated as a separate payment. 

(E) With regard to any payment considered to be nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A, to the
extent applicable, that is payable upon a change in control of the Company or other similar event, to avoid the imposition of an additional tax, interest or penalty under Section 409A, no amount will be payable unless such change in control
constitutes a “change in control event” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations. 

(11) Section 162(m). To the extent applicable, Awards granted pursuant to the Plan are intended to be eligible for
exemption from the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code by reason of the post-initial public offering transition relief set forth in Section 1.162-27(f) of the Treasury Regulations. 

  
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 (b) Stock Options and SARs. 

(1) Time and Manner of Exercise. Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, no Stock Option or SAR
will be deemed to have been exercised until the Administrator receives a notice of exercise in a form acceptable to the Administrator that is signed by the appropriate person and accompanied by any payment required under the Award. Any attempt to
exercise a Stock Option or SAR by any person other than the Participant will not be given effect unless the Administrator has received such evidence as it may require that the person exercising the Award has the right to do so. 

(2) Exercise Price. The exercise price (or the base value from which appreciation is to be measured) of each Award
requiring exercise must be no less than 100% (in the case of an ISO granted to a 10-percent stockholder within the meaning of subsection (b)(6) of Section 422, 110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of
Stock, determined as of the date of grant, or such higher amount as the Administrator may determine in connection with the grant. 

(3) Payment of Exercise Price. Where the exercise of an Award is to be accompanied by payment, payment of the
exercise price must be made by cash or check acceptable to the Administrator or, if so permitted by the Administrator and if legally permissible, (i) through the delivery of previously acquired unrestricted shares of Stock, or the withholding
of unrestricted shares of Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise, in either case that have a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price; (ii) through a broker-assisted exercise program acceptable to the Administrator; (iii) by other
means acceptable to the Administrator; or (iv) by any combination of the foregoing permissible forms of payment. The delivery of previously acquired shares in payment of the exercise price under clause (i) above may be accomplished either
by actual delivery or by constructive delivery through attestation of ownership, subject to such rules as the Administrator may prescribe. 

(4) Maximum Term. The maximum term of Stock Options and SARs must not exceed 10 years from the date of grant (or
five years from the date of grant in the case of an ISO granted to a 10-percent stockholder described in Section 6(b)(2) above). 

(5) No Repricing. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (which term includes,
without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off,
combination or exchange of shares) or as otherwise contemplated by Section 7 below, the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (A) amend the terms of outstanding Stock Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price or base
value of such Stock Options or SARs, (B) cancel outstanding Stock Options or SARs in exchange for Stock Options or SARs with an exercise price or base value that is less than the exercise price or base value of the original Stock Options or
SARs, or (C) cancel outstanding Stock Options or SARs that have an exercise price or base value greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of such cancellation in exchange for cash or other consideration. 

7. EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS 

(a) Mergers, etc. Except as otherwise expressly provided in an Award agreement or by
the Administrator, the following provisions will apply in the event of a Covered Transaction: 
 (1) Assumption or
Substitution. If the Covered Transaction is one in which there is an acquiring or surviving entity, the Administrator may provide for (A) the assumption or continuation of some or all outstanding Awards or any portion thereof or
(B) the grant of new awards in substitution therefor by the acquiror or survivor or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor. 

  
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 (2) Cash-Out of Awards.
Subject to Section 7(a)(5) below, the Administrator may provide for payment (a “cash-out”), with respect to some or all Awards or any portion thereof (including only the vested portion
thereof), equal in the case of each affected Award or portion thereof to the excess, if any, of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock times the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award or such portion, over (B) the
aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, of such Award or such portion (in the case of a SAR, the aggregate base value above which appreciation is measured), in each case on such payment and other terms and subject to such conditions (which
need not be the same as the terms and conditions applicable to holders of Stock generally), as the Administrator determines; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, that if the exercise or purchase price (or base value) of an Award or
portion thereof is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock, such Award or portion thereof may be cancelled with no payment due hereunder or otherwise in respect of such Award. 

(3) Acceleration of Certain Awards. Subject to Section 7(a)(5) below, the Administrator may provide that any
Award requiring exercise will become exercisable, in full or in part, and/or that the issuance of any shares of Stock remaining issuable under any outstanding Award of Stock Units (including Restricted Stock Units and Performance Awards to the
extent consisting of Stock Units) will be accelerated, in full or in part, in each case on a basis that gives the holder of the Award a reasonable opportunity, as determined by the Administrator, following exercise of the Award or the issuance of
the shares, as the case may be, to participate as a stockholder in the Covered Transaction. 
 (4) Termination of Awards upon
Consummation of Covered Transaction. Except as the Administrator may otherwise determine in any case, each Award will automatically terminate (and in the case of outstanding shares of Restricted Stock, will automatically be forfeited)
immediately upon consummation of the Covered Transaction, other than (A) any Award that is assumed, continued or substituted for pursuant to Section 7(a)(1) above, and (B) any Award that by its terms, or as a result of action taken by
the Administrator, continues following the Covered Transaction. 
 (5) Additional Limitations. Any share of
Stock and any cash or other property or other award delivered pursuant to Section 7(a)(1), Section 7(a)(2) or Section 7(a)(3) above with respect to an Award may, in the discretion of the Administrator, contain such restrictions, if
any, as the Administrator deems appropriate, including to reflect any performance or other vesting conditions to which the Award was subject and that did not lapse (and were not satisfied) in connection with the Covered Transaction. For purposes of
the immediately preceding sentence, a cash-out under Section 7(a)(2) above or an acceleration under Section 7(a)(3) above will not, in and of itself, be treated as the lapsing (or satisfaction) of a
performance or other vesting condition. In the case of Restricted Stock that does not vest and is not forfeited in connection with the Covered Transaction, the Administrator may require that any amounts delivered, exchanged or otherwise paid in
respect of such Stock in connection with the Covered Transaction be placed in escrow or otherwise made subject to such restrictions as the Administrator deems appropriate to carry out the intent of the Plan. 

  
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 (6) Uniform Treatment. For the avoidance of doubt, the
Administrator need not treat Participants or Awards (or portions thereof) in a uniform manner, and may treat different Participants and/or Awards differently, in connection with a Covered Transaction. 

(b) Changes in and Distributions with Respect to Stock. 

(1) Basic Adjustment Provisions. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares (including
a reverse stock split), recapitalization or other change in the Company’s capital structure that constitutes an equity restructuring within the meaning of the Accounting Rules, the Administrator shall make appropriate adjustments to the maximum
number of shares of Stock specified in Section 4(a) that may be issued under the Plan and to the limits described in Section 4(d), and shall make appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of shares of stock or securities underlying
Awards then outstanding or subsequently granted, any exercise or purchase prices (or base values) relating to Awards and any other provision of Awards affected by such change. 

(2) Certain Other Adjustments. The Administrator may also make adjustments of the type described in
Section 7(b)(1) above to take into account distributions to stockholders other than those provided for in Section 7(a) and 7(b)(1), or any other event, if the Administrator determines that adjustments are appropriate to avoid distortion in
the operation of the Plan or any Award. 
 (3) Continuing Application of Plan Terms. References in the Plan to
shares of Stock will be construed to include any stock or securities resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 7. 
 8. LEGAL CONDITIONS
ON DELIVERY OF STOCK 
 The Company will not be obligated to issue any shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction
from shares of Stock previously issued under the Plan until: (i) the Company is satisfied that all legal matters in connection with the issuance of such shares have been addressed and resolved; (ii) if the outstanding Stock is at the time
of issuance listed on any stock exchange or national market system, the shares to be issued have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of issuance; and (iii) all conditions of the Award have been
satisfied or waived. The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of an Award or the issuance of shares of Stock under an Award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company may consider appropriate to avoid violation of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state or non-U.S. securities law. Any Stock issued to Participants under the Plan will be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator may deem
appropriate, including book-entry registration or delivery of stock certificates. In the event that the Administrator determines that stock certificates will be issued to Participants under the Plan, the Administrator may require that such
certificates bear an appropriate legend reflecting any restriction on transfer applicable to such Stock, and the Company may hold the certificates pending the lapse of the applicable restrictions. 

  
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 9. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION 

The Administrator may at any time or times amend the Plan or any outstanding Award for any purpose which may at the time be permitted by
applicable law, and may at any time terminate the Plan as to any future grants of Awards; provided, however, that except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or the applicable Award, the Administrator may not, without the
Participant’s consent, alter the terms of an Award so as to affect materially and adversely the Participant’s rights under the Award, unless the Administrator expressly reserved the right to do so at the time the Award was granted. Any
amendments to the Plan will be conditioned upon stockholder approval only to the extent, if any, such approval is required by applicable law (including the Code) or stock exchange requirements, as determined by the Administrator. For the avoidance
of doubt, no adjustment to any Award pursuant to the terms of Section 7 will be treated as an amendment requiring a Participant’s consent. 

10. OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS 
 The
existence of the Plan or the grant of any Award will not affect the Company’s right to award a person bonuses or other compensation in addition to Awards under the Plan. 

11. MISCELLANEOUS 
 (a)
Waiver of Jury Trial. By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, each Participant waives (or will be deemed to have waived), to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, any right to a trial
by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan and any Award, or under any amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection
therewith, and agrees (or will be deemed to have agreed) that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim will be tried before a court and not before a jury. By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, each Participant
certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company would not, in the event of any action, proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the Plan, nothing herein is to be construed as limiting the ability of the Company and a Participant to agree to submit any dispute arising under the terms of the Plan or any Award to binding arbitration or as limiting
the ability of the Company to require any individual to agree to submit such disputes to binding arbitration as a condition of receiving an Award hereunder. 

(b) Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or any Award, neither the
Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, nor the Administrator, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or the Administrator, will be liable to any Participant, to any permitted transferee, to the estate or beneficiary
of any Participant or any permitted transferee, or to any other person by reason of any acceleration of income, any additional tax, or any penalty, interest or other liability asserted by reason of the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements
of Section 422 or Section 409A or by reason of Section 4999 of the Code, or otherwise asserted with respect to any Award. 

  
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 (c) Unfunded Plan. The Company’s obligations under the Plan
are unfunded, and no Participant will have any right to specific assets of the Company in respect of any Award. Participants will be general unsecured creditors of the Company with respect to any amounts due or payable under the Plan. 

12. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUB-PLANS 

The Administrator may at any time and from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan
(for local-law compliance purposes or other purposes or administrative reasons determined by the Administrator) by adopting supplements to the Plan containing, in each case, such limitations on the
Administrator’s discretion under the Plan, and such additional terms and conditions, as the Administrator deems necessary or desirable. Each supplement so established will be deemed to be part of the Plan but will apply only to Participants
within the group to which the supplement applies (as determined by the Administrator). 
 13. GOVERNING LAW 

(a) Certain Requirements of Corporate Law. Awards and shares of Stock will be granted, issued and administered
consistent with the requirements of applicable Delaware law relating to the issuance of stock and the consideration to be received therefor, and with the applicable requirements of the stock exchanges or other trading systems on which the Stock is
listed or entered for trading, in each case as determined by the Administrator. 
 (b) Other Matters. Except as
otherwise provided by the express terms of an Award agreement, under a sub-plan described in Section 12 or as provided in Section 13(a) above, the domestic substantive laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts govern the provisions of the Plan and of Awards under the Plan and all claims or disputes arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award under the Plan or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof without giving effect to
any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. 

(c) Jurisdiction. By accepting (or being deemed to have accepted) an Award, each Participant agrees or will be
deemed to have agreed to (i) submit irrevocably and unconditionally to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts for the
purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award; (ii) not commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award, except in the federal and state
courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts; and (iii) waive, and not assert, by way of motion as a defense or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any
claim that he or she is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts that his or her property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the
venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that the Plan or any Award or the subject matter thereof may not be enforced in or by such court. 

  
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 EXHIBIT A 

Definition of Terms 

The following terms, when used in the Plan, have the meanings and are subject to the provisions set forth below: 

“Accounting Rules”: Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor
provision. 
 “Administrator”: The Compensation Committee, except with respect to such matters that are not delegated to
the Compensation Committee by the Board (whether pursuant to committee charter or otherwise). The Compensation Committee (or the Board, with respect to such matters over which it retains authority under the Plan or otherwise) may delegate
(i) to one or more of its members (or one or more other members of the Board, including the full Board) such of its duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine; (ii) to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant
Awards to the extent permitted by Section 152 or 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law; and (iii) to such Employees or other persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it deems appropriate. In the event of any delegation
described in the preceding sentence, the term “Administrator” will include the person or persons so delegated to the extent of such delegation. 

“Award”: Any or a combination of the following: 

(i) Stock Options. 

(ii) SARs. 

(iii) Restricted Stock. 

(iv) Unrestricted Stock. 

(v) Stock Units, including Restricted Stock Units. 

(vi) Performance Awards. 

(vii) Awards (other than Awards described in (i) through (vi) above that are convertible into or otherwise based on Stock.

 “Beneficiary”: In the event of a Participant’s death, the beneficiary named in the written designation (in a form
acceptable to the Administrator) most recently filed with the Administrator by the Participant prior to his or her death and not subsequently revoked, or, if there is no such designated beneficiary, the executor or administrator of the
Participant’s estate. An effective beneficiary designation will be treated as having been revoked only upon receipt by the Administrator, prior to the Participant’s death, of an instrument of revocation in form acceptable to the
Administrator. 
 “Board”: The Board of Directors of the Company. 

  
 12 

 “Cause”: In the case of any Participant who is party to an employment or
severance-benefit agreement that contains a definition of “Cause,” the definition set forth in such agreement applies with respect to such Participant for purposes of the Plan for so long as such agreement is in effect. In every other
case, “Cause” means, as determined by the Administrator, (i) a substantial failure of the Participant to perform the Participant’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or substantial negligence in
the performance of such duties and responsibilities; (ii) the commission by the Participant of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Participant of theft, fraud, embezzlement, material breach of trust
or any material act of dishonesty involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iv) a significant violation by the Participant of the code of conduct of the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any material policy of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, or of any statutory or common law duty of loyalty to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (v) material breach of any of the terms of the Plan or any Award made under the Plan, or of the terms of any other agreement between
the Company or any of its subsidiaries and the Participant; or (vi) other conduct by the Participant that could be expected to be harmful to the business, interests or reputation of the Company. 

“Code”: The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended and in effect, or any successor statute as from
time to time in effect. 
 “Company”: Beam Therapeutics Inc. 

“Compensation Committee”: The Compensation Committee of the Board. 

“Covered Transaction”: Any of (i) a consolidation, merger or similar transaction or series of related transactions,
including a sale or other disposition of stock, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company’s then outstanding common stock by a single person or entity or
by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert, (ii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Company’s assets, or (iii) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company. Where a Covered Transaction involves a tender
offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a merger described in clause (i) (as determined by the Administrator), the Covered Transaction will be deemed to have occurred upon consummation of the tender offer. 

“Date of Adoption”: The earlier of the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders or adopted by the Board,
as determined by the Committee. 
 “Director”: A member of the Board who is not an Employee. 

“Employee”: Any person who is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. 

“Employment”: A Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Employment will be deemed to continue, unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, so long as the Participant is employed by, or otherwise is providing services in a capacity described in Section 5 to, the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. If a Participant’s employment or other service relationship is with any subsidiary of the Company and that entity ceases to be a subsidiary of the Company, the Participant’s Employment will be deemed to have terminated when
the entity ceases to be a subsidiary of the 

  
 13 

 
Company unless the Participant transfers Employment to the Company or one of its remaining subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in construing the provisions of any Award relating to the
payment of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (subject to Section 409A) upon a termination or cessation of Employment, references to termination or cessation of employment, separation from service, retirement or similar or
correlative terms will be construed to require a “separation from service” (as that term is defined in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations) from the Company and from all other
corporations and trades or businesses, if any, that would be treated as a single “service recipient” with the Company under Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations. The Company may,
but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes
of determining whether a “separation from service” has occurred. Any such written election will be deemed a part of the Plan. 

“Fair Market Value”: As of a particular date, (i) the closing price for a share of Stock reported on the Nasdaq Global
Market (or any other national securities exchange on which the Stock is then listed) on that date or, if no closing price is reported for that date, the closing price on the immediately preceding date on which a closing price was reported or
(ii) in the event that the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of a share of Stock determined by the Administrator consistent with the rules of Section 422 and Section 409A to the extent
applicable. 
 “ISO”: A Stock Option intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of
Section 422. Each Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan will be treated as providing by its terms that it is to be an NSO unless, as of the date of grant, it is expressly designated as an ISO in the applicable Award agreement. 

“NSO”: A Stock Option that is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of
Section 422. 
 “Participant”: A person who is granted an Award under the Plan. 

“Performance Award”: An Award subject to performance conditions, which may include Performance Criteria. 

“Performance Criteria”: Specified criteria, other than the mere continuation of Employment or the mere passage of time, the
satisfaction of which is a condition for the grant, exercisability, vesting or full enjoyment of an Award. A Performance Criterion and any targets with respect thereto need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of
loss and may be applied to a Participant individually, or to a business unit or division of the Company or to the Company as a whole and may relate to any or any combination of the following or any other criterion or criteria determined by the
Administrator (measured either absolutely or comparatively (including, without limitation, by reference to an index or indices or the performance of one or more companies) and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on
a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof and subject to such adjustments, if any, as the Administrator specifies): sales; revenues; assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for

  
 14 

 
all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization, whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per share basis; return on equity, investment, capital or
assets; one or more operating ratios; borrowing levels, leverage ratios or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow; stock price; stockholder return; sales of particular products or services; customer acquisition or retention;
acquisitions and divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures and strategic alliances; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations; recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of debt
or equity) or refinancings; or strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on: meeting specified market penetration or value added, product development or introduction (including, without limitation, any clinical trial
accomplishments, regulatory or other filings or approvals, or other product development milestones), geographic business expansion, cost targets, cost reductions or savings, customer satisfaction, operating efficiency, acquisition or retention,
employee satisfaction, information technology, corporate development (including, without limitation, licenses, innovation, research or establishment of third-party collaborations), manufacturing or process development, legal compliance or risk
reduction, or patent application or issuance goals. A Performance Criterion may also be based on individual performance and/or subjective performance criteria. The Administrator may provide that one or more of the Performance Criteria applicable to
such Award will be adjusted in a manner to reflect events (for example, but without limitation, acquisitions or dispositions) occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable Performance Criterion or Criteria. 

“Plan”: The Beam Therapeutics Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as from time to time amended and in effect. 

“Prior Plan”: The Beam Therapeutics Inc. 2017 Stock Option and Grant Plan. 

“Restricted Stock”: Stock subject to restrictions requiring that it be forfeited, redelivered, or offered for sale to the
Company if specified service or performance-based conditions are not satisfied. 
 “Restricted Stock Unit”: A Stock Unit
that is, or as to which the issuance of Stock or delivery of cash in lieu of Stock is, subject to the satisfaction of specified performance or other vesting conditions. 

“SAR”: A right entitling the holder upon exercise to receive an amount (payable in cash or in shares of Stock of equivalent
value) equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock subject to the right over the base value from which appreciation under the SAR is to be measured. 

“Section 409A”: Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder. 

“Section 422”: Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. 

“Stock”: Common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share. 

“Stock Option”: An option entitling the holder to acquire shares of Stock upon payment of the exercise price. 

  
 15 

 “Stock Unit”: An unfunded and unsecured promise, denominated in shares of
Stock, to issue Stock or deliver cash measured by the value of Stock in the future. 
 “Substitute Awards”: Awards issued
under the Plan in substitution for one or more equity awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced or adjusted in connection with the acquisition. 

“Unrestricted Stock”: Stock not subject to any restrictions under the terms of the Award. 

  
 16EX-10.17

 Exhibit 10.17 

 

					
	 Name:
	  			
	 Number of Shares of Stock subject to the Stock Option:
	  			
	 Exercise Price Per Share:
	  	 	$                	 
	 Date of Grant:
	  			
	 [Vesting Commencement Date]
	  			

 BEAM THERAPEUTICS INC. 

2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN 

INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT 

This agreement (this “Agreement”) evidences a stock option granted by Beam Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”)
to the individual named above (the “Participant”), pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Beam Therapeutics Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (as from time to time amended and in effect, the “Plan”). Except as
otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein have the same meaning as in the Plan. 
 1. Grant of Stock Option. The
Company grants to the Participant on the date set forth above (the “Date of Grant”) an option (the “Stock Option”) to purchase, pursuant to and subject to the terms set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan, up to
the number of shares of Stock set forth above (the “Shares”) with an exercise price per Share as set forth above, in each case subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan in respect of transactions occurring after
the date hereof. 
 The Stock Option evidenced by this Agreement is intended to be treated as an ISO to the maximum extent provided under
the Code. To the extent the Stock Option does not qualify as an ISO, the Stock Option will be treated as an NSO. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Administrator may take any action permitted under the Plan without regard to the effect
such action or actions may have on the status of the Stock Option as a ISO and that such action or actions may cause the Stock Option to fail to be treated as an ISO. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of
grant) of the Shares subject to the Stock Option and all other ISOs the Participant holds that are exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its subsidiaries) exceeds $100,000, the stock options held
by the Participant or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted in accordance with Section 422) will be treated as NSOs. 

2. Vesting. The term “vest” as used herein with respect to the Stock Option or any portion thereof means to become
exercisable and the term “vested” with respect to the Stock Option (or any portion thereof) means that the Stock Option (or portion thereof) is then exercisable. Unless earlier terminated, forfeited, relinquished or expired, the
Stock Option will vest. 
 3. Exercise of the Stock Option. No portion of the Stock Option may be exercised until such portion vests.
Each election to exercise any vested portion of the Stock Option will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and must be in written or electronic form acceptable to the Administrator, signed (including by electronic signature) by the
Participant or, 

  
 1 

 
if at the relevant time the Stock Option has passed to a Beneficiary or permitted transferee, the Beneficiary or permitted transferee. Each such written or electronic exercise election must be
received by the Company at its principal office or by such other party as the Administrator may prescribe and be accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price by cash or check, through a broker-assisted exercise program acceptable to the
Administrator, or as otherwise provided in the Plan consistent with the regulations promulgated under Section 424 of the Code. The latest date on which the Stock Option or any portion thereof may be exercised is the tenth (10th) anniversary (or the fifth (5th) anniversary, in the case of a 10-percent stockholder within the meaning
of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) of the Date of Grant (the “Final Exercise Date”) and, if not exercised by such date, the Stock Option or any remaining portion thereof will thereupon immediately terminate. 

4. Cessation of Employment. If the Participant’s Employment ceases, except as expressly provided for in an employment
agreement between the Participant and the Company that is in effect at the time of such termination, the Stock Option, to the extent not then vested, will be immediately forfeited for no consideration, and any vested portion of the Stock Option that
is then outstanding will remain exercisable for the period described in Section 6(a)(4) of the Plan. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that in the event any portion of the Stock Option is exercised after the date that is three
(3) months after the date of the cessation of the Participant’s employment with the Company and its subsidiaries (subject to certain exceptions in the case of the Participant’s death), or any portion of the exercise price is satisfied
through a broker-assisted exercise program, the Participant will lose the tax treatment afforded to ISOs under the Code with respect to any portion of the Stock Option so exercised. 

5. Restrictions on Transfer; Disqualifying Dispositions. The Stock Option may not be transferred except as expressly permitted
under Section 6(a)(3) of the Plan. If the Participant transfers or otherwise disposes of any Shares acquired upon exercise of the Stock Option within two years from the Date of Grant or within one year after such Shares were acquired pursuant
to the exercise of the Stock Option, within fifteen (15) days following such transfer, the Participant will notify the Company in writing of such transfer or disposition. 

6. Forfeiture; Recovery of Compensation. By accepting, or being deemed to have accepted, the Stock Option, the Participant expressly
acknowledges and agrees that his or her rights, and those of any permitted transferee, with respect to the Stock Option, including the right to any Shares acquired under the Stock Option or proceeds from the disposition thereof, are subject to
Section 6(a)(5) of the Plan (including any successor provision). The Participant further agrees to be bound by the terms of any clawback or recoupment policy of the Company that applies to incentive compensation that includes Awards such as the
Stock Option. Nothing in the preceding sentence will be construed as limiting the general application of Section 8 of this Agreement. 

7. Withholding. The Participant expressly acknowledges and agrees that the Participant’s rights hereunder, including the right to
be issued Shares upon exercise of the Stock Option, are subject to the Participant promptly paying to the Company in cash or by check (or by such other means as may be acceptable to the Administrator) all taxes required to be withheld, if any. No
Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Stock Option unless and until the person exercising the Stock Option has remitted to the Company an amount in cash sufficient to 

  
 -2- 

 
satisfy any federal, state, or local withholding tax requirements, or has made other arrangements satisfactory to the Company with respect to such taxes. The Participant authorizes the Company
and its subsidiaries to withhold such amount from any amounts otherwise owed to the Participant, but nothing in this sentence will be construed as relieving the Participant of any liability for satisfying his or her obligation under the preceding
provisions of this Section. 
 8. Provisions of the Plan. This Agreement is subject in its entirety to the provisions of the Plan,
which are incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Plan as in effect on the Date of Grant has been made available to the Participant. By accepting, or being deemed to have accepted, the Stock Option, the Participant agrees to be bound by the
terms of the Plan and this Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control. 

9. Acknowledgements. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that (i) this Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which will be an original and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument, (ii) this Agreement may be executed and exchanged using facsimile, portable document format (PDF) or electronic signature, which, in each
case, will constitute an original signature for all purposes hereunder, and (iii) such signature by the Company will be binding against the Company and will create a legally binding agreement when this Agreement is countersigned by the
Participant. 
 [Signature page follows.] 

  
 -3- 

 The Company, by its duly authorized officer, and the Participant have executed this
Agreement as of the Date of Grant. 
  

			
	BEAM THERAPEUTICS INC.

 
			
		
	By:	 	 

 
			
	Name:	 	 

 
			
	Title:	 	 

  

			
	Agreed and Accepted:
		
	By	 	 
		 	[Participant’s Name]

 Signature page to Stock Option Agreement

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