Efficacy and Tolerability of Beclometasone/Formoterol Single Inhaler in Patients With Moderate to Severe Persistent Asthma

Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical diagnosis of moderate to severe persistent asthma (according to GINA 2002 guidelines) * FEV1 \> 40% and \< 80% of predicted normal post-bronchodilator (and at least 0.7 L absolute value) * Patients already treated for at least 2 months with an association of inhaled corticosteroids plus LABA at doses of: 750 - 1000 µg beclomethasone dipropionate or equivalent (ICSs) 24 µg formoterol or 100 µg salmeterol (LABAs) * Or patients naïve of LABA already treated for at least 2 months with inhaled corticosteroids (doses as above) associated with a daily use of SABA and/or with clinical symptoms \> 3 times in the week prior to inclusion * A documented positive response to the reversibility test. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or lactating females or women of childbearing potential without any efficient contraception. * Heavy smokers defined as smoking for \> 10 pack years. * Evidence of asthma exacerbation causing an hospitalisation or requiring treatment with oral/parenteral corticosteroids or evidence of symptomatic airways infection in the 4 weeks prior to inclusion (3 months for slow-release corticosteroids). * Seasonal asthma or asthma occurring only during episodic exposure to an allergen or occupational chemical sensitizer. * Clinically significant or unstable concomitant diseases, including clinically significant laboratory abnormalities. * Patients with an abnormal QTc interval value in the ECG test, defined as \> 450 msec in males or \> 470 msec in females. * Evidence of asthma worsening during the week preceding randomisation (e.g. PEF variability \> 30% during 2 consecutive days, SABA use \> 8 puffs/day during 2 consecutive days, nocturnal awakenings due to asthma symptoms during 3 consecutive days