New York, Jan 13, 2026, 05:28 ET — Premarket
- Beam shares slipped a bit in premarket trading following a 22% surge in the previous session.
- Company reports FDA support for a possible accelerated approval route for BEAM-302 in treating alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
- Attention turns to management’s upcoming appearance at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, with a BEAM-302 data update expected by the end of Q1.
Beam Therapeutics Inc (BEAM.O) slipped roughly 0.6% to $33.47 in premarket trading Tuesday, following a sharp 22.3% jump during Monday’s session. The shares climbed as high as $36.44 Monday and saw volume around 7.0 million shares. 1
The jump is significant as Beam aims to transform gene-editing science into a filing regulators can realistically accept. Traders tend to reward firms that present a clearer path to approval—and penalize those bogged down in lengthy, costly trials.
Beam’s update arrives amid a jam-packed biotech calendar where grabbing attention is tough. A data readout on the horizon and more defined regulatory signals could quickly shift the stock out of the “wait and see” category.
Beam announced it has secured alignment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on a possible accelerated approval pathway for BEAM-302 targeting alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), a rare genetic disorder. The plan hinges on monitoring AAT biomarkers over a 12-month period. The company expects to release updated Phase 1/2 data and outline “next steps” for pivotal development by the end of Q1. CEO John Evans emphasized that Beam is driving “regulatory execution” in parallel with its clinical efforts. 2
Beam reported in a filing that it wrapped up 2025 with roughly $1.25 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, projecting its cash runway into 2029. The company noted this number is preliminary and unaudited. Included in the total is $255.1 million from Bristol-Myers Squibb’s acquisition of Orbital Therapeutics. Beam also plans to file a biologics license application (BLA) for its sickle cell candidate risto-cel as soon as the end of 2026. Management will share pipeline updates at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference later Tuesday. 3
William Blair viewed the FDA alignment as a strong positive, saying it provides Beam with a “clear line of sight” on the packaging requirements for risto-cel and BEAM-302 applications. The firm also highlighted both programs’ acceptance into the FDA’s Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls Development and Readiness Pilot program—a move that could speed up manufacturing processes that often delay filings. 4
Bernstein SocGen Group bumped Beam’s price target to $37 from $32 and maintained an Outperform rating. The firm pointed to a likely early-2026 update on the AATD program and better clarity on a quicker approval timeline. 5
Beam belongs to a select group of gene-editing firms aiming to advance past initial safety data and engage directly with regulators. Investors frequently compare it to rivals like CRISPR Therapeutics and Intellia Therapeutics as “time to filing” drives trading decisions.
AATD isn’t a fast track. BEAM-302 aims to make a targeted genetic edit in the liver, employing lipid nanoparticles — fatty carriers — to deliver the editing payload straight to cells. Investors will be watching closely to see if the biomarker data stays consistent as dosing progresses.
This regulatory move doesn’t equal approval, nor does it guarantee success. Should BEAM-302’s upcoming data fall short on safety or durability, or if biomarker improvements fail to persuade regulators of real patient benefits, the accelerated pathway could close fast.
Beam’s execs are set to discuss dose selection, timing, and manufacturing at the J.P. Morgan conference on Tuesday. The company also plans to release its BEAM-302 update by the end of Q1.
