The future of relievers and controllers in asthma therapy

Treatment of persistent asthma with anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator agents will probably remain in the first line treatment for at least the next 5 years. The only 2 new options that might become available in the next five years are: a) the use of long-acting bronchodilators, and particularly inhaled salmeterol and formoterol, alone or in combination with very low dose inhaled glucocorticoids; and/or b) cysteinyl-leukotrienes receptor-antagonists and synthesis-inhibitors. Also the pharmacologic treatment of asthma exacerbations will not probably change significantly in the near future.