Roche Pauses Contested Gene Therapy’s Shipments Outside US (1)

Roche Holding AG paused some shipments of the controversial gene therapy Elevidys following a similar action by the embattled US biotechnology company that developed the treatment.

The Swiss drugmaker said the move applies to new orders in countries outside the US that base their approvals on Food and Drug Administration decisions. It covers all patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a muscle-wasting disease, regardless of their ability to walk.

Roche described the pause as voluntary and temporary in an emailed statement late Tuesday. The shares rose as much as 1.9% in early Zurich trading on Wednesday, helping them clock a small ...