Healthy Returns: Amgen joins a growing list of drugmakers selling directly to consumers

Core Insights - Drugmakers are increasingly adopting telehealth platforms for direct-to-consumer sales, aligning with the Trump administration's push for lower drug prices [2][3][5] - Amgen has announced a significant price reduction for its cholesterol-lowering drug Repatha, offering it at a cash price 60% lower than its current list price [2] - The Trump administration is promoting a "most favored nation" policy to tie U.S. drug prices to lower prices abroad, urging companies to implement direct-to-consumer sales models [3] Group 1: Industry Trends - The pharmaceutical industry is moving towards direct-to-consumer sales, allowing patients to purchase medications directly from manufacturers at discounted prices [5] - This shift enables drugmakers to bypass intermediaries like pharmacy benefit managers, potentially increasing their revenue [5] Group 2: Government Initiatives - The Trump administration plans to launch a website, TrumpRx.gov, to facilitate direct online purchases of branded drugs at discounts, with Pfizer agreeing to offer discounts averaging 50% and up to 85% on certain drugs [4] - In July, Trump sent letters to 17 drugmakers, urging them to adopt measures to reduce costs for patients, including direct-to-consumer sales [3]