The drugmaker’s stock is up more than 35 percent since the disastrous cardiology meeting nearly two months ago, but its challenges are no less serious thanks to the ongoing Vytorin controversy. After all, if Schering-Plough stock is undervalued, then fund managers need extra special attention. Never mind that the board awarded ceo Fred Hassan lots of options at a low price.

So the drugmaker has hired its former investor relations vp, Janet Barth, who at one point spent 14 years at Schering-Plough and most recently worked at Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, to help investors focus on what’s really important. And what might that be? Essentially, anything but Vytorin. Of course, that may not be so easily accomplished unless, or until, the falloff in Vytorin scrips ends.

Barth, who will report to Alex Kelly, will have her work cut out for her. As of May 16, weekly data indicate that Vytorin total scrips are down 10.5 percent, and Zetia scrips are off 11.3 percent, year-over-year, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Barbara Ryan, citing IMS Health figures. Of course, the stock may be benefiting from an old saying - been down so long, looks like up to me. The shares closed up more than 4 percent today, to $20.08.