Report: Ex-Merck staffer working on insider-trading plea deal

Zachary Zwerko, the former Merck ($MRK) analyst caught up in an SEC investigation of insider trading, is reportedly working on a plea deal with prosecutors, according to Reuters. Zwerko and an old buddy allegedly worked up the scheme ahead of Merck's $3.9 billion buyout of Idenix last year. The SEC says he also passed on insider info regarding Ardea and ViroPharma. The SEC says the two made at least $722,000 from the scheme, setting up Zwerko for a charge that could have put him behind bars for 5 years. Story