Merck KGaA is looking into direct distribution to U.S. patients

German drugmaker Merck KGaA MRK on Thursday joined peers in saying it was considering distribution models that serve U.S. patients directly if the government goes ahead with plans to slash drug prices to align with lower levels in other countries.

President Donald Trump has ramped up efforts to cut prescription drug prices through a "most-favored-nation" (MFN) policy, aiming to align domestic prices with the lowest levels paid by comparable high-income countries.

"Direct-to-patient sales is an option in our plans if MFN is implemented," CEO Belen Garijo said in a media call after the release of quarterly results.

"There is a significant cost burden associated (with) the distribution of medicines in the U.S., so anything that we can do to alleviate the burden to the patient is something that we will contemplate," she added.