Are New Asthma Therapies Needed?

For many years, effective therapy for the management of asthma has been available. Issues of adverse side effects and questionable patient compliance with current therapies have been seen as deterrents for proven beneficial agents such as the anti-inflammatory corticosteroids and the bronchodilating beta 2-agonists. As effective as available agents are, the goal of consistent efficacy and ease of use has fueled research into new therapies that are either easier to use or have a more favorable side effect profile.