EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE 100 µg + FORMOTEROL 6 µg pMDI VIA HFA-134a vs. FLUTICASONE 125 µg + SALMETEROL 25 µg pMDI

Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical diagnosis of moderate to severe persistent asthma for at least 6 months, according to GINA revised version 2002 guidelines (11): * Forced expiratory volume (FEV1) or peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) ³ 50% and £ 80% of the predicted normal; * Asthma not adequately controlled with the current therapies, defined as presence of daily asthma symptoms \> once a week and night-time asthma symptoms \> twice a month, and daily use of short-acting β2-agonists. These findings are to be based on recent medical history and are to be confirmed in the 2-week run-in period. * Treatment with inhaled corticosteroids at a daily dose ≤ 1000 μg of BDP or equivalent. The daily dose of inhaled corticosteroids taken at visit 1 will be assessed taking into account the following ratios between the doses of the different steroids: fluticasone propionate : BDP CFC = 1 : 2; budesonide : BDP CFC = 4 : 5; flunisolide : BDP CFC = 1 : 1. The ratios between inhaled steroids are irrespective of the formulations (i.e. spray aerosol or powder) used. When BDP is given in the new extra-fine HFA-134a formulation (as QVAR®, 3M Healthcare), the ratio with BDP CFC is set as 2 : 5. Therefore, the maximum allowed daily dose of inhaled corticosteroids at study entry will be: budesonide 800 μg, fluticasone propionate 500 μg, flunisolide 1000 μg, BDP 1000 mg, BDP HFA extra-fine 400 μg. * Positive response to the reversibility test in the screening visit, defined as an increase of at least 12% (or, alternatively, of 200mL) from baseline value in the measurement of FEV1 30 minutes following 2 puffs (2 ´ 100 µg) of inhaled salbutamol administered via pMDI. The reversibility test can be avoided in patients having a documented positive response in the previous 6 months. * A co-operative attitude and ability to be trained to correctly use the metered dose inhalers and to complete the diary cards. * Written informed consent obtained. * At the end of the 2-week run-in period, the presence of daily asthma symptoms (of at least mild intensity) and nighttime asthma symptom (of at least mild intensity) \> once a week, as well as of daily use of relief salbutamol is to be confirmed by reviewing the diary cards for run-in. Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to carry out pulmonary function testing; * Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as defined by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute/World Health Organisation (NHLBI/WHO) Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines (30); * History of near fatal asthma; * Evidence of severe asthma exacerbation or symptomatic infection of the airways in the previous 8 weeks; * Three or more courses of oral corticosteroids or hospitalisation due to asthma during the previous 6 months; * Patients treated with long-acting β2-agonists, anticholinergics and antihistamines during the previous 2 weeks, with topical or intranasal corticosteroids and leukotriene antagonists during the previous 4 weeks; * Patients who have changed their dose of inhaled corticosteroids during the previous 4 weeks, or treatment with inhaled corticosteroids at a daily dose \> 1000 μg of BDP or equivalent (except for extra-fine formulations, see inclusion criteria); * Current smokers or recent (less than one year) ex-smokers, defined as smoking at least 10 cigarettes/day; * History or current evidence of heart failure, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, severe hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias; * Diabetes mellitus; * Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG) during the previous six months; * Patients with an abnormal QTc interval value in the ECG test, defined as \> 450 msec in males or \> 470 msec in females; * Other haemodynamic relevant rhythm disturbances (including atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation with ventricular response, bradycardia (≤ 55 bpm), evidence of atrial-ventricular (AV) block on ECG of more than 1st degree; * Clinically significant or unstable concurrent diseases: uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, significant hepatic impairment, poorly controlled pulmonary (tuberculosis, active mycotic infection of the lung), gastrointestinal (e.g. active peptic ulcer), neurological or haematological autoimmune diseases; * Cancer or any chronic diseases with prognosis \< 2 years; * Pregnant or lactating females or females at risk of pregnancy, i.e. those not demonstrating adequate contraception (i.e. barrier methods, intrauterine devices, hormonal treatment or sterilization). A pregnancy test is to be carried out in women of a fertile age. * History of alcohol or drug abuse; * Patients treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants or beta-blockers as regular use; * Allergy, sensitivity or intolerance to study drugs and/or study drug formulation ingredients; * Patients unlikely to comply with the protocol or unable to understand the nature, scope and possible consequences of the study; * Patients who received any investigational new drug within the last 12 weeks; * Patients who have been previously enrolled in this study; * At the end of the run-in period, patients will not be admitted to the treatment period in the case of an increase of PEFR (L/sec) measured at the clinics at the end of the run-in period ³ 15% in respect of values measured at the start of the run-in period; * Patients with asthma exacerbations during the run-in period will also be excluded from the study.