It is estimated that about 1 million new victims will be succumbing to Alzheimer's disease annually by 2010, with that number climbing as the huge baby boomer population starts to enter their shuffleboard years en masse and collectively begin to wonder where the heck they parked their cars or left their keys.

Alzheimer's disease is not only ravaging our elderly population, with more than 5 million victims in the U.S. already diagnosed and suffering, it is threatening to become one of the fastest-growing pandemics we've ever seen, with the potential to bring the world - and global economy - to its knees.

Right now, this brain-eating disease is costing U.S. taxpayers over $120 billion a year. It's already the most costly illness behind heart disease and cancer. The global numbers are of course much larger than that, but the specific data is spotty so let's just stick with U.S. data even though it understates the problem.

And that doesn't include the heavy emotional and financial drain this disease will increasingly impose on the families and caregivers of the victims. Caring for somebody with advanced Alzheimer's can cost upwards of $100,000 per year and a good chunk of that will not be covered by insurance. You think $3.50 at the gas pump is putting a crimp on consumer spending now? These costs, in dollars and in quality of life, are expected to climb dramatically unless something drastic is done to stop this scourge.

The two companies I believe have the best chance of stopping this disease, and make $billions in the process, are locked in a joint venture to develop one of the most exciting new drugs of our generation - one that can finally defeat Alzheimer's. As in cure. I'm talking about Elan (ELN), a cutting edge biotech company based in Dublin, Ireland and Wyeth (WYE), its U.S. (New Jersey) partner and the pharmaceutical and biotech powerhouse. Wyeth has a total of 10 drugs in the works for Alzheimer's, more than any other company.

The drug: Bapineuzumab (where in the heck did they come up with that name!), has recently entered phase III trials. An earlier version of this drug caused brain inflammation and trials were halted - but later analysis of the treated patients showed remarkable results in reversing Alzheimer's plaque. "Bapi" isn't causing brain inflammation. This drug, a genetically engineered antibody, actually clears away the toxic protein that clots Alzheimer's patients' brains and promises to stop and even reverse some of the damage. So early stage victims could potentially fully recover, while those in later stages could enjoy a partial recovery and totally arrest any further cognitive decline and damage.

Although both companies will benefit in a big way if this new drug succeeds, I advise Wyeth shares as the best way to directly invest in this bet.

My advice: Buy Wyeth shares up to $44.

Best wishes,
Jeff Manera
Emerging Markets Insider
Email: Jmanera@EmergingMarketsInsider.net