July 22 (Reuters) - Roche Holding AG said on

Tuesday it has paused all shipments of muscular disorder gene

therapy Elevidys outside the U.S., echoing a similar decision by

U.S. partner Sarepta Therapeutics ( SRPT ) on Tuesday.

The Swiss drugmaker said the pause, effective Tuesday,

applies to new orders of Elevidys in countries outside the U.S.

that reference the Food and Drug Administration as the basis for

their local approval.

The pause is voluntary and temporary, and applies to all

patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy regardless of their

ability to walk, Roche said in an emailed statement.

Roche acquired the commercial rights to Sarepta's Elevidys

outside the United States in 2019.

Bloomberg News first reported the development.