By Deena Beasley

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Amgen on Monday launched direct-to-consumer U.S. sales of its cholesterol medication Repatha at a discounted cash price, becoming the latest pharmaceutical company responding to U.S. political pressure to lower drug prices.

The injected drug, with sales of $2.2 billion last year, will have a monthly price of $239, or nearly 60% below its current U.S. list price, the company said. It said the price matches the lowest it now receives in any economically developed country.

Amgen said the new program is open to eligible U.S. patients, including those who are uninsured or prefer to pay cash for medications. There are no plans, however, to process insurance coverage for purchases through the consumer portal, which will be called AmgenNow.

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