** Amgen AMGN.O on Mon launched direct-to-consumer U.S. sales of cholesterol drug Repatha at discount $239/mo cash price; stock down 1.4% ** Move responds to U.S. political pressure to lower drug prices; new price nearly 60% below list, but only for uninsured cash buyers ** AMGN says 98% of insured U.S. patients already get Repatha with co-pays as low as $15 ** Repatha sales hit $2.2 bln last yr** AMGN stock up ~13% YTD, lagging Nasdaq .IXIC rise of 19%

(Reporting by Noel Randewich)

((noel.randewich@thomsonreuters.com))