Efficacy and Safety of Tiotropium and Salmeterol in Moderate Persistent Asthma Patients Homozygous for B16-Arg/Arg

You may be eligible if

• Inclusion\_Criteria:
• 1. Patients homozygous for arginine at the 16th amino acid position of the beta2 adrenergic receptor (B16 Arg/Arg)
• 2. All patients must sign and date an Informed Consent Form for the study prior to participation in the trial
• 3. Male or female outpatients with at least 18 years of age, but not older than 65 years
• 4. Patients must have a documented history of asthma
• 5. Patients must be current non-smokers or ex-smokers with a cigarette smoking history of \<10 pack-years
• 6. Patients must be on a maintenance treatment with inhaled corticosteroids with a total daily dose of 400 - 1000 mcg budesonide or equivalent
• Exclusion\_Criteria:
• 1. Patients with a significant disease other than asthma
• 2. Patients with a recent history (i.e., six months or less) of myocardial infarction
• 3. Patients who have been hospitalized for heart failure (New York Heart Association class III or IV) within the past year
• 4. Patients with any unstable or life threatening cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrhythmia requiring intervention or a change in drug therapy within the past year
• 5. Patients with malignancy for which the patient has undergone resection, radiation therapy or chemotherapy within the last five years. Patients with treated basal cell carcinoma are allowed.
• 6. Patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• 7. Patients with a history of life threatening pulmonary obstruction, or a history of cystic fibrosis or clinically evident bronchiectasis
• 8. Patients with known active tuberculosis
• 9. Patients who have undergone thoracotomy with pulmonary resection.
• 10. Patients who have completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program in the six weeks prior to visit 1 or patients who are currently in a pulmonary rehabilitation program that will not be maintained throughout the duration of the study.