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

In a highly unusual move, Cambridge-based Sarepta said late Friday won’t comply with a request from the Food and Drug Administration to halt all shipments of its gene therapy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday it was investigating the death of an eight-year-old boy who received Sarepta Therapeutics' muscular disorder gene therapy Elevidys.