FRANKFURT, Aug 7 (Reuters) - German drugmaker Merck KGaA

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.