Sarepta Therapeutics is pausing shipments of its gene therapy for muscular dystrophy following several patient deaths that have attracted attention from regulators.

Sarepta Therapeutics shares were lower in premarket trading on Tuesday, as the drugmaker relented to a Food and Drug Administration request to halt shipments of a gene therapy.

When three patients die after taking a cutting-edge drug, most companies hit the brakes. Not Sarepta Therapeutics. The Massachusetts-based biotech company is under fire for refusing a request from the U.