Effect of Inhaled Ciclesonide in Adult Patients With Asthma (BY9010/M1-125)

Main inclusion criteria: * Out-patients * Written informed consent * History of atopic disease * History of perennial bronchial asthma for at least 6 months as defined by ATS criteria * Current use of only inhaled short acting beta-2-agonist as required (for at least 4 weeks prior to baseline period B0) * Stable asthma, i.e. no exacerbation or relevant respiratory tract infection within 2 months prior to study start * FEV1 ≥ 70% predicted * Hyperreactivity to AMP (PC20FEV1 \< 25 mg/ml) * Good health with the exception of asthma * Non-smokers as well as ex-smokers with either = 10 pack-years or more than 6 months of smoking abstinence Main exclusion criteria: * Concomitant severe diseases or diseases which are contraindications for the use of inhaled steroids (e.g. lung tuberculosis) * Clinically relevant abnormal laboratory values suggesting an unknown disease and requiring further clinical evaluation * Use of systemic steroids 4 weeks (injectable depot steroids 6 weeks) before entry into the baseline period, or more than 3 times during the last 6 months * Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant during the course of the study, breast feeding, lack of safe contraception in heterosexually active female patients of child-bearing potential, or postmenopausal for less than one year * COPD (i.e. chronic bronchitis or emphysema) and/or other relevant lung diseases * Known or suspected hypersensitivity to inhaled steroids or to the other excipients of the metered dose inhalers * Immunotherapy within one month prior to B0 and/or during the entire study duration