Sarepta falls on reports of patient death in early-stage study

** Shares of gene therapy maker Sarepta Therapeutics SRPT.O down 15% at $18.66

** A 51-year-old man enrolled in an early-stage study of one of co's gene therapies, SRP-9004, has died from acute liver failure, as per media reports

** SRP-9004 was being tested for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy a group of genetic disorders that primarily weaken the hip and shoulder muscles

** U.S. FDA is already probing two earlier deaths due to acute liver failure in non-ambulatory Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients after receiving Sarepta's gene therapy, Elevidys

** "Although the development of SRP-9004 has been discontinued, we believe the death could lead to greater scrutiny of SRP-9003's safety profile ahead of its BLA submission and could affect commercial interest, if approved"- brokerage William Blair

** SRPT did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment

** Including session moves, SRPT down 81.9% YTD