The traditional model, where pharmaceutical companies reached patients only through clinicians, specialty pharmacies and clinical sites, is rapidly giving way to a more direct approach. As patient expectations evolve and regulations adapt, leading manufacturers are expanding into direct-to-patient (DTP) models: launching digital storefronts, offering cash-pay pathways, and integrating telehealth, affordability services, and home delivery in unified experiences. 

In the last 2 years, companies like Eli Lilly (launching LillyDirect), Pfizer, Novo Nordisk (launching NovoCare), AstraZeneca and others launched prominent DTP platforms to connect directly with patients. But the future of pharma’s DTP evolution is not simply about setting up online pharmacies or shipping pills to doorsteps. This shift is transforming how therapies are delivered, how patients are supported, and how data-driven insights are generated. 

Whether you’re evaluating your first DTP pilot or scaling an existing program, this guide provides an evidence-based overview of what DTP enablement is, why it matters now, and how to operationalize it in a commercial context. We’ll break down core components of successful DTP models, examine their impact on pharmaceutical commercialization (from patient access to brand loyalty), discuss common implementation challenges, and highlight best practices drawn from real-world deployments. 

By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of how DTP ecosystems work and a practical framework for integrating them into your organization’s strategy.

What Is DTP Enablement?

Direct-to-Patient (DTP) describes pharma’s ability to interact directly with patients to support access and treatment, with services such as affordability support, telehealth, and delivery when appropriate. In practice, a DTP program creates a complete operational pathway owned (or orchestrated) by the manufacturer, that usually includes:

• Prescription intake via local or telemedicine providers: Patients can obtain a prescription from their existing local healthcare provider or through a licensed telemedicine consult, depending on preference and state rules.

• Coverage, benefits and affordability workflows: Real-time insurance verification, prior authorization support, co-pay assistance, and cash-pay options that reduce payer friction and ensure patients can start therapy quickly.

• Patient-facing portal: A website or app where patients register, order medication, schedule delivery, access educational resources, and receive support.

• Patient support and follow-up: Pharmacists or support staff are available (via chat, phone, or telemedicine) for counseling, adherence monitoring, refills, and addressing questions or side effects.

• Medication fulfillment and delivery (when included): Prescriptions can be routed to a partner pharmacy for dispensing, with optional home delivery depending on the therapy and program design.

DTP enablement is not defined by home delivery, it is a comprehensive framework of technology, coverage workflows, compliance, and patient services that allows pharma companies to coordinate the full patient journey directly with patients.

Why DTP Matters Now

Several factors have made direct-to-patient enablement one of pharma’s top strategic priorities in recent years.

Expanding Access for Underinsured and Cost-Burdened Patients

Even when patients are willing to begin therapy, cost and administrative friction can prevent them from accessing the treatment they need.

DTP programs help close this gap by creating an additional, more accessible pathway for patients who cannot secure coverage or timely authorization. For example, a DTP model may pair an online consultation with transparent cash-pay pricing, manufacturer-sponsored affordability programs, or co-pay support, making therapy attainable for patients who would otherwise drop off.

For many brands, this is the number-one reason to invest in DTP enablement: ensuring that motivated patients can start and stay on therapy regardless of insurance hurdles.

Policy & Pricing Changes

Industry economics are being reshaped by policies like the Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S., which imposes pricing changes that squeeze traditional rebate-driven models. Rebate reforms and “Most-Favored-Nation” pricing rules are pushing pharma to rethink the status quo, and DTP offers a more sustainable, direct revenue pathway in certain cases. 

By facilitating access directly to the patient (often at a steep discount and without middleman markups), manufacturers can potentially retain more control over pricing strategies and margins long-term.

Consumer Expectations

Patients, especially younger generations, have been conditioned by technology, and specifically e-commerce, to expect convenience, transparency and speed in all transactions. Healthcare is no exception. 

Millennials and Gen Z now represent over half the population, and “for younger demographics, seeking medication online should feel as natural as any other purchase”. In a recent survey, 81% of patients said they expect pharma companies to provide resources that help them manage their care, and 65% believe pharma should offer digital tools and support services as part of the treatment experience. 

Three-quarters of U.S. consumers say they’d consider purchasing medications directly from a pharma company if it provided a simpler, more transparent experience. 

Pharma companies that meet these expectations can differentiate themselves and build patient loyalty, while those that don’t, risk losing relevance in an increasingly “consumerized” healthcare landscape.

Therapy Fit & New Categories

Certain types of therapies are especially well-suited to direct-to-patient channels. These tend to be “specialty-lite” or lifestyle medications that patients are already seeking out proactively. For example, treatments in dermatology, weight management, migraine, fertility, or other self-managed chronic conditions. Such products often have high consumer awareness and don’t require intensive in-person monitoring, making them ideal for a mostly digital delivery model. 

Similarly, therapies that are self-administered (oral pills, autoinjectors, etc.) are prime candidates for DTP because patients can take them at home without a clinician. We also see DTP being attractive for brands in highly competitive classes (where ease of access could sway a patient’s choice and build stickiness) and “access-challenged” brands (medications with restricted coverage or approaching loss of exclusivity). 

In those cases, a DTP channel can provide a critical safety net to keep patients on therapy and maintain brand loyalty even as payer support decreases or generic competition increases.

Pharma Companies Are Heavily Investing in DTP Enablement

According to a 2025 industry survey, 94% of pharma leaders say they either have a DTP program running, plan to launch one in the next year, or are actively exploring the option. The entire industry is now leaning into DTP, in some form. Over half of those surveyed even predict that DTP will become standard practice for most brands within five years.

This wave of adoption is driven by tangible business benefits and competitive pressures, not just hype. Early adopters have reported that DTP programs can boost patient acquisition and retention in ways that translate to topline growth. Aaron Uydess of EVERSANA noted that well-designed DTP models typically yield about a 4:1 to 6:1 return on investment (ROI) after three years.

Much of this value comes from capturing scripts that otherwise would be lost. Uydess estimates a strong DTP program can capture between 15% to 25% of total script volume for a brand by removing access hurdles and reaching patients who might not have gone through the usual pharmacy route. For a blockbuster drug, this can equate to hundreds of millions in revenue retained or gained. It comes to no surprise that even historically conservative pharma companies are pouring resources into DTP pilots and expansions.

Real-world examples illustrate the commercial impact. In cardiovascular care, Amgen’s DTP initiative for Repatha, a cholesterol-lowering injection, offered 60% discounts and streamlined access, leading to the “lowest U.S. net price among G7 countries” and drawing in cost-sensitive patients who might otherwise abandon therapy. 

Bristol Myers Squibb launched a cash-pay DTP portal for its psoriasis drug, Sotyktu, with an 80% discount, vastly lowering the barrier for patients facing insurance denials. AstraZeneca, Novartis and Boehringer Ingelheim have similarly rolled out direct channels with steep price reductions for certain medications. These programs are not just promotional. They are capturing patients who were slipping through the cracks, translating into higher initiation and retention rates for the brands.

Key Components of Successful DTP Enablement

Implementing DTP capabilities is a complex task that covers multiple domains. Based on industry deployments and survey feedback, several core components (or pillars) are essential for a successful DTP program.

Technology Infrastructure & Digital Experience

At the heart of DTP is a robust digital platform that ties everything together. Patients should have a single, user-friendly interface, that serves as the “digital front door” to the program. Through this portal, they can learn about the therapy, consult a provider if needed, enroll in support programs, arrange delivery and get follow-up care, among other things. 

Leading pharma companies have learned that integrating these functions into one seamless system is better than stitching together many siloed vendors. In early DTP efforts, it was common to use one vendor for telehealth, another for pharmacy, another for nursing support, etc., which often forced patients to jump between websites or repeat their information. 

This fragmentation creates frustration and drop-off. “Patients face a multi-vendor obstacle course requiring the same information entered multiple times” resembling a high-friction DIY project rather than streamlined commerce. 

Here’s a list of the crucial capabilities that the tech infrastructure should include:

• Telehealth integration: so that patients can get a prescription from a licensed clinician online if they don’t already have one. This often means embedding or partnering with telemedicine services within the DTP portal.
  
  

• E-prescribing and pharmacy system integration: to route prescriptions directly to the dispensing pharmacy and provide patients with status updates.
  
  

• Benefits verification and coverage assessment: Used to instantly check insurance coverage and benefits, determine patient eligibility and streamline prior authorization or copay support enrollment.
  
  

• Payment and affordability options: Tools that process credit card payments for cash-pay transactions and apply manufacturer-sponsored co-pay assistance, discounts, or other affordability programs.
  
  

• Patient communication tools: such as a live chat, chatbots or phone support integrated into the platform. Many patients have questions about their medication or the process; features like live chat to get answers (which 44% of patients say they want) or AI-driven chatbots for quick FAQs can greatly enhance the experience.
  
  

• Automated notifications: so patients can receive updates about order status, shipment tracking, and refill reminders.
  
  

• Data analytics and CRM: available on the backend, through which the platform can capture all user interactions and feed a data warehouse or CRM system. This allows the pharma company to monitor program performance in real-time (e.g., funnel conversion rates, adherence rates) and trigger interventions.

To showcase the importance of an integrated approach, think about e-commerce. Every extra click or form field can reduce the conversion rate. The same applies to DTP. Pharma companies report that consolidating vendors and creating an all-in-one experience directly improves patient uptake and satisfaction.

Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Behind the digital front-end lies the heavy lifting of logistics; getting a regulated, often sensitive medical product from Point A (manufacturer or pharmacy) to Point B (patient) efficiently and safely.

There are a couple of models for DTP fulfillment:

• some programs use a centralized mail-order pharmacy or depot that ships directly to patients (often a national partner pharmacy licensed across all required states)
  
  

• others may route through local sites or pharmacies (decentralized) if specific handling is needed

Regardless of model, key logistics capabilities include:

• Secure, timely shipping: medications, especially specialty drugs like injectables, biologics, or gene therapies, may require cold-chain packaging, temperature monitoring, and rapid delivery to maintain efficacy. A break in the cold chain or a delayed delivery could ruin the product and harm the patient.
  
  

• Tracking and notifications: Both the patient and the pharma company should be able to track shipments in real time. Patients appreciate knowing exactly when their medication will arrive (think of how consumer e-commerce gives you package tracking to your doorstep).
  
  

• Inventory and supply management: Offering DTP means the manufacturer (or its logistics partners) must manage inventory availability for direct orders. If a patient is ready to order but the product is on backorder or stuck in distribution channels, it undermines trust.
  
  

• Regulatory compliance in distribution: Ensuring shipments comply with all regulations (e.g., DSCSA track-and-trace serialization, which in the U.S. mandates that individual prescription drug packages be traceable, or handling of controlled substances per DEA rules if applicable). A DTP program needs processes to verify that the right patient receives the right drug with appropriate documentation.

Neglecting the logistics component can be a fatal flaw for DTP initiatives. A patient’s experience is not just the website usability, but whether the medication actually arrives on time and in good condition.

Regulatory Compliance & Legal Considerations

A 2023 industry survey found that 45% of pharma companies identified “compliance and legal concerns” as the primary barrier to launching DTP programs.

In the United States, pharmacy practice is regulated at the state level, meaning what’s permissible in one state (for mailing prescriptions, telehealth prescribing, etc.) might be restricted in another.

Key compliance areas to address include:

• Pharmacy and dispensing laws: If the DTP model involves direct dispensing, the entity shipping the drug typically must be a licensed pharmacy or distributor. Many manufacturers solve this by partnering with an existing mail-order pharmacy network or by contracting a licensed specialty pharmacy to fulfill DTP orders on their behalf.
  
  

• Telehealth and prescribing regulations: Since DTP often uses telemedicine for prescription generation, compliance with telehealth laws is critical. This includes following the Ryan Haight Act for prescribing controlled substances and adhering to any state-specific telemedicine rules (like requiring a video consult vs. just a phone call).
  
  

• Advertising and promotion rules: When engaging directly with patients, manufacturers must be careful that their communications comply with FDA and other regulatory guidelines for promotion. For example, if the DTP portal includes medication info or promotional content, it needs to balance benefit claims with appropriate risk disclosures.
  
  

• Quality and pharmacovigilance: Delivering drugs directly means the manufacturer might also need to think about how to handle adverse event reporting or product quality issues reported by patients. In the traditional model, these might filter back via healthcare providers or pharmacies. In a DTP model, if a patient experiences a side effect and mentions it during a support call, the company’s pharmacovigilance processes must capture and report that per FDA requirements.

Many companies form cross-functional working groups (including regulatory affairs, legal, quality assurance, and compliance officers) to map out the requirements for each region and ensure the program is built to meet them. In some cases, organizations even seek FDA feedback or state board of pharmacy input proactively.

Patient Engagement & Support Services

While technology and logistics are crucial, patient engagement is the glue that makes DTP truly patient-centric. The best DTP programs actively support patients at each step to maximize success in therapy. This is where human touch and thoughtful service design come in.

Here are some of the most important elements of patient support in DTP programs.

Onboarding and education

When a patient first enters the program, the process should onboard them smoothly, collecting their information, informed consent where needed, medical history for the prescriber, etc. This should be as frictionless as possible (auto-fill forms, use of insurance card photo upload, etc.) because complex forms can scare people off. 

Once they’re in, providing clear education about the medication is key. This might be via an online learning module, nurse call or multimedia content. Patients need to know how to take their medication properly, what to expect, and how the DTP service will support them. 

Some DTP programs even mail a welcome kit with printed instructions and contact info for help.

24/7 Access to Help

Questions or issues can arise at any time (e.g. an injection was more painful than expected or a delivery is late). Leading programs offer around-the-clock access to someone who can help, whether it’s a pharmacist on call, a nurse hotline, or at least a chatbot that can escalate to a live person. 

Even if full 24/7 live support isn’t feasible, extended hours coverage is important, because patients may be using the medication outside of business hours.

Adherence monitoring

One of the benefits of DTP is improved adherence, driven by active monitoring and intervention. Many DTP programs incorporate proactive outreach. 

For example, if a patient is due for a refill but hasn’t ordered by a certain date, the system can trigger a reminder notification or a call from a support specialist asking if they need help refilling. 

Some programs integrate smart devices or apps that remind patients to take doses or track symptoms. In cases of complex therapies (like an injectable for rheumatoid arthritis), a nurse might schedule periodic virtual check-ins to see how the patient is doing. 

Feedback loops and patient-reported outcomes

Effective DTP models treat patients as partners and sources of insight. This can involve prompting patients to report how they’re feeling, any side effects, or their disease progress.

Simple surveys or in-app check-ins can gather valuable data, with consent, on how the patient is responding to therapy. For example, if many patients report fatigue at week 2 of a therapy, the program can proactively send information about managing that side effect or alert physicians.

Not only does this demonstrate that the company cares about the patient’s health, which is one of the main reasons companies implement DTP, but it can also feed into better understanding the medication’s real-world effectiveness and inform support needs. 

Common DTP Program Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Despite the promising benefits, implementing a DTP program comes with certain challenges.

Maintaining Provider Relationships

A concern some stakeholders raise is whether DTP models alienate healthcare providers (HCPs), such as physicians and local pharmacies. Doctors might worry that pharma is trying to “go around” them to get to patients, and pharmacists might fear being cut out. 

In reality, for prescription drugs, physicians remain central. No one gets a prescription without a licensed provider’s approval in a legitimate DTP program. The intention is not to exclude doctors, but to supplement their care by removing administrative burden and offering patients convenience. 

Many programs actually rely on physicians to refer appropriate patients. For example, a dermatologist could tell a patient: “You can get this medication through the manufacturer’s direct program for fast home delivery and support,” which might improve the patient’s likelihood to start treatment. 

The data suggests HCPs are open to this. In one survey, 77% of healthcare providers said they would recommend DTP services or portals to patients for medication info and support. 

Many DTP programs still have physicians performing the telehealth consults and pharmacists dispensing the drug, so it’s more about reconfiguring the service delivery than removing healthcare professionals.

Internal Organizational Silos

Implementing a DTP program requires coordination between separate departments: commercial (marketing and sales), medical affairs, supply chain, IT, legal and patient support services. 

This can impede DTP efforts which demand a “one team” approach. For example, the commercial team might sponsor it for marketing reasons, but it won’t succeed without the supply chain team ensuring distribution, or without IT building the platform, etc. One survey of pharma executives found that over 60% cited internal silos as a major barrier to patient-centric initiatives like DTP.

Many companies establish a cross-functional steering committee or task force for DTP implementation, led by a high-ranking champion (e.g., a Chief Digital Officer or Head of Commercial Innovation). 

This group should set shared objectives that transcend individual brands. For instance, field sales teams or brand managers worry that DTP will cannibalize their numbers so they are reassured by potentially counting DTP-originated prescriptions toward their goals, or framing DTP as bringing in new patients, rather than shifting existing ones. 

Budget and ROI Clarity

While earlier we noted the long-term ROI is promising, in the short term DTP programs require significant investment in technology, in new hires or vendor contracts and in patient subsidies (e.g. free shipping, discounts). 

It can be challenging to get budget approval without clarity on how to measure success. Is DTP a marketing expense, a distribution cost, or a patient support program? Who owns the P&L for it? Overcoming this involves building a strong business case and transparent metrics. 

Leverage early data (from pilots or industry benchmarks) to project the impact on prescription volume and adherence. Also, start with a pilot if needed to gather internal data. For example, run DTP for one brand in one region, measure the outcomes for 6-12 months, then expand. Demonstrating even a few percentage points increase in conversion or retention can translate to big revenue increases, which helps justify further budget.

Often, the combination of improved patient outcomes and good business outcomes will satisfy both the commercial stakeholders and the medical/compliance stakeholders that the program is worth it.

Best Practices for Implementing DTP Programs

Drawing on lessons from industry professionals, surveys, and expert analyses, here are several best practices to guide the planning and rolling out of DTP initiatives.

1. Start with a Strategic Assessment Since Not Every Drug Needs DTP

Before diving into building a DTP platform, take a step back and evaluate which products or patient populations make sense for a direct model. DTP is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some therapies are better suited than others. 

Key factors to assess include:

• Clinical suitability: Can the medication be used safely at home without direct medical supervision? Oral drugs, self-injectables, or devices that patients can manage are good candidates. If a drug requires in-clinic administration or extensive monitoring (e.g., certain infused biologics), a pure DTP approach might not be feasible, though hybrid models (home nursing visits, etc.) could be considered.
  
  

• Patient demand and digital readiness: Is the target patient population likely to embrace a digital home-delivery option? For example, younger patients or those with mobility issues might strongly prefer it. If the therapy addresses a stigma-laden condition (e.g. hair loss, sexual health) where discretion is valued, DTP could be very attractive. However, elderly patients or those in acute care might not engage as readily online (though caregivers could).
  
  

• Market access and business rationale: Determine the problem you are trying to solve with DTP. Is it to increase access in a category where patients can’t get the drug easily (due to insurance barriers or lack of nearby specialists)? Or to differentiate in a crowded market by offering superior service? Or to extend the product’s life as it goes off patent by building direct patient relationships? For instance, if you have a drug with limited insurance coverage, a DTP cash-pay option could capture patients who would otherwise drop off. If you have a new drug in a competitive class, DTP could be a way to gain market share via convenience.
  
  

• Operational feasibility: Can you reliably deliver this therapy to patients? If a drug needs a sub-zero cold chain (like certain cell/gene therapies or vaccines), do you have the infrastructure or partners to handle that? If a therapy has complex reimbursement (like coverage under medical vs. pharmacy benefits), can your system integrate those checks? It might be wise to start with a simpler use case to pilot: for example, choose a self-pay dermatology cream rather than an oncology infusion as the first DTP test.

By performing this initial assessment, you can prioritize which DTP initiatives will deliver the most value with the least resistance. Many companies start with one or two brands that meet favorable criteria (self-administered, high unmet need, etc.), prove the model there, and then generalize the approach more broadly.

2. Design an Integrated, End-to-End Patient Journey

Integration is the core of DTP success. As shown earlier, a common pitfall is a fragmented approach that stitches together multiple vendors and touchpoints, leading to a disjointed patient experience. 

The best practice is to map out the entire patient journey, from first awareness or referral all the way to refill, and build an integrated workflow for each step. This way the patient feels like they are dealing only with one entity, with knowledge of their case throughout the journey, rather than being passed along a chain.

To achieve this integration:

• Conduct journey mapping workshops with all stakeholders. Plot what a patient should ideally experience at each stage, perhaps using patient personas. Identify potential pain points or drop-off points and address them in the design. For instance, if the journey map shows a gap between prescription and delivery where a patient might wonder “Was my order approved?”, build in a status update notification there.
  
  

• Consolidate vendors where possible. If you have existing partnerships, explore if one of them can expand services to cover more pieces, or if a new platform could replace both. Fewer hand-offs mean fewer integration headaches. However, ensure any “all-in-one” partner is truly capable in all areas, because sometimes niche expertise is still needed (e.g. a telehealth partner with licensed prescribers in all 50 states or a pharmacy network with the right accreditations).
  
  

• Plan for data flow and integration behind the scenes. All the entities involved (the telehealth provider, the pharmacy, the support team etc.) should be sharing data in near real-time to keep the journey cohesive. For example, the moment a doctor writes an electronic prescription, the pharmacy should get it, the patient portal should update (“Prescription approved!”) and the benefit verification should kick off. That requires the systems to talk to each other. 

If the first cohort of patients finds it easy and helpful, word will spread and more will enroll. Some companies even quietly beta-test with friendly patients or employees to iron out kinks.

3. Engage Regulators and Compliance Teams Early

There’s a popular saying that goes “It’s easier to ask for permission than forgiveness” and this is especially true in highly regulated industries. Early engagement with regulatory bodies and internal compliance is essential.

Here are a list of tips we recommend following:

• Involve your compliance/legal team from the start of the project. Make them part of the core planning group. It’s better to have them voice concerns and help craft solutions in the design phase than to have them veto something right before launch. For example, legal might advise on wording for patient consents, or compliance might highlight that a certain state prohibits manufacturer coupons for Medicare patients, which you can then account for in the DTP program logic.
  
  

• Address state-level variability upfront. Creating a matrix of states vs. key program elements (telehealth, pharmacy shipping, nursing support, etc.) to spot any problematic states can be very useful. Some companies do a phased rollout, launching in the majority of states first and adding the more challenging ones later as they resolve issues (e.g. states that require in-state physician licenses, or that have restrictions on pharma-owned pharmacies).

As one McKinsey report suggested, communicating with regulators early can reduce uncertainty and accelerate approval pathways. The companies that do this well often end up with regulators viewing them as trustworthy partners, which can even speed up feedback if any tweaks are needed post-launch.

The Future of DTP Enablement

Recent trends show that DTP enablement is set to become even more integral to the pharmaceutical industry, evolving together with technological advances. 

This is where we believe, DTP is likely headed in the coming years:

From Novelty to the New Normal

DTP is rapidly moving from an innovative pilot to an expected capability. Just as consumers now assume most retail brands offer online shopping and home delivery, patients will soon assume pharma brands offer direct access options. 

In five years, launching a new drug without some form of DTP channel could be seen as outdated. Industry surveys already indicate half of pharma leaders expect DTP to be standard practice within 5 years. 

The competitive edge will shift from simply having DTP, to how well you execute it compared to others. Companies that invest now in robust and scalable DTP infrastructure will be positioned as leaders, while late adopters may struggle to catch up in patient connectivity.

Deeper Integration with Healthcare Ecosystem

The next generation of DTP programs will integrate even more seamlessly with other healthcare services. 

Imagine a future where a patient’s journey might start on a pharma DTP portal but fluidly connect to their electronic health record, their primary doctor or local lab services. For instance, if a patient needs a lab test to monitor therapy, the DTP platform could schedule an at-home lab draw or direct them to a partner lab, then automatically pull results back and share with the prescribing doctor. 

Pharma companies might partner with health systems, payers, or digital health firms to tie their DTP offerings into care management programs, where patients move between in-person care and manufacturer-provided digital services without gaps.

Advanced Data and Personalization

Given the increase in data and insights coming from DTP interactions, pharma will increasingly use technologies like AI and machine learning to derive insights and personalize patient support. 

For example, imagine having predictive algorithms that identify which patients are at risk of non-adherence or dropping out, so support can intervene proactively (perhaps even before the patient realizes they need help).

On the operational side, AI can help optimize logistics, predicting when a patient will need a refill based on usage patterns or improving route planning for deliveries to prevent delays. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Direct-to-Patient (DTP) enablement in pharma?

DTP enablement is a model where pharmaceutical companies coordinate the entire patient journey, from prescription to home delivery and ongoing support, through a digital, integrated system.

How is DTP different from direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising?

DTC is promotional (ads, coupons, awareness campaigns), while DTP is operational (delivery, telehealth, payment, support). DTP ensures the patient receives, understands, and stays on therapy.

What types of medications work best for DTP programs?

Self-administered therapies, consumer-driven categories (e.g. dermatology, migraine, weight management), and specialty-lite products are ideal. These therapies don’t require frequent in-person monitoring and benefit from convenience-driven access.

Why are pharma companies investing heavily in DTP now?

Rising patient expectations, payer friction and competitive pressure are driving adoption.

DTP improves access, increases adherence and provides deeper visibility into the patient journey.

What are the biggest challenges in implementing DTP?

Regulatory complexity, fragmented technology, and internal organizational silos are the top barriers. Successful programs solve this through early compliance planning, integrated platforms, and cross-functional alignment.