['asthma']
['beclometasone dipropionate 100 µg + formoterol fumarate 6 µg', 'beclometasone dipropionate 200 µg + formoterol fumarate 6 µg', 'placebo']

        Inclusion Criteria:

          -  Patient's written informed consent obtained prior to any study-related procedures.

          -  Male or female aged between 18 and 65 years inclusive;

          -  Evidence for "partially controlled" or "uncontrolled" asthma;

          -  Medium daily dose of previous inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) treatment;

          -  FEV1 between 60% and 85% of the predicted normal values;

          -  A documented positive response to the reversibility test;

          -  Non-smokers or ex-smokers;

          -  A cooperative attitude and ability to be trained in the proper use of a DPI.

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  Pregnant or lactating women and all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant
             not willing to use at least one acceptable method of contraception.

          -  Significant seasonal variation in asthma occurring or expected to occur during study
             participation;

          -  History of near fatal asthma, brittle asthma, accident and Emergency treatment or
             hospitalisation for asthma exacerbation in Intensive Care Unit within 1 year before
             screening;

          -  Occurrence of asthma exacerbations or respiratory tract infections in the 4 weeks
             preceding the screening;

          -  Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease;

          -  History of cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis or alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency;

          -  Diagnosis of restrictive lung disease;

          -  Patients treated with oral or parenteral corticosteroids in the previous 8 weeks;

          -  Intolerance or contra-indication to treatment with beta2-agonists and/or inhaled
             corticosteroids;

          -  Allergy, sensitivity or intolerance to study drugs or excipients;

          -  Patients who received any investigational drug within the last 8 weeks before the
             screening;

          -  Patients taking any of the non-permitted concomitant medication;

          -  Subjects unlikely to comply with the study protocol;

          -  Any clinically relevant abnormal value or physical finding at screening;

          -  Significant medical history;

          -  Abnormal and clinically significant 12-lead electrocardiogram;

          -  Patients with low compliance of QVAR intake.
      