Patient description: A 39-year-old man came to the clinic with cough and shortness of breath that was not relieved by his inhaler. He had these symptoms for 5 days during the past 2 weeks. He doubled his oral corticosteroids in the past week. He is a chef with a history of asthma for 3 years, suffering from frequent cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath and chest tightness. The symptoms become more bothersome within 1-2 hours of starting work every day and worsen throughout the work week. His symptoms improve within 1-2 hours outside the workplace. Spirometry was performed revealing a forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) of 63% of the predicted. His past medical history is significant for seasonal allergic rhinitis in the summer. He doesn't smoke or use illicit drugs. His family history is significant for asthma in his father and sister. He currently uses inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and fluticasone 500 mcg/salmeterol 50 mcg, one puff twice daily.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 12.0-999.0,  Asthma Subjects must give their signed and dated written informed consent to participate prior to commencing any study related activities Subjects must be outpatients >=12 years of age at Visit 1 who have had a diagnosis of asthma, as defined by the National Institutes of Health, for at least 12 weeks prior to Visit 1 (Note: Countries with local restrictions prohibiting enrollment of adolescents will enroll subjects >=18 years of age only) Subjects may be male or an eligible female. An eligible female is defined as having non-childbearing potential or having childbearing potential and a negative urine pregnancy test at Screening and agrees to use an acceptable method of birth control consistently and correctly Subjects must have a FEV1 of >=80% of the predicted normal value Subjects are eligible if they have received mid dose ICS plus LABA (equivalent to FP/salmeterol 250/50 twice daily or an equivalent combination via separate inhalers) for at least the 12 weeks immediately preceding Visit 1 All subjects must be able to replace their current SABA treatment with albuterol/salbutamol aerosol inhaler at Visit 1 for use, as needed, for the duration of the study. Subjects must be able to withhold albuterol/salbutamol for at least 6 hours prior to study visits If in the opinion of the investigator the subject's asthma is well controlled  History of Life-Threatening Asthma, defined for this protocol as an asthma episode that required intubation and/or associated with hypercapnea, respiratory arrest or hypoxic seizures within the last 5 years Culture-documented or suspected bacterial or viral infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract, sinus or middle ear that is not resolved within 4 weeks of Visit 1 and led to a change in asthma management or in the opinion of the Investigator, expected to affect the subject's asthma status or the subject's ability to participate in the study Any asthma exacerbation requiring oral corticosteroids within 12 weeks of Visit 1 or resulting in an overnight hospitalization requiring additional treatment for asthma within 6 months prior to Visit 1 A subject must not have current evidence of Atlectasis, Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Chronic bronchitis, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Pneumonia, Pneumothorax, Interstitial lung disease, or any evidence of concurrent respiratory disease other than asthma A subject must not have any clinically significant, uncontrolled condition or disease state that, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the safety of the subject at risk through study participation or would confound the interpretation of the results if the condition/disease exacerbated during the study A subject must not have used any investigational drug within 30 days prior to Visit 1 or within five half-lives (t½) of the prior investigational study, whichever is longer of the two Any adverse reaction including immediate or delayed hypersensitivity to any beta2-agonist, sympathomimetic drug, or any intranasal, inhaled, or systemic corticosteroid therapy. Known or suspected sensitivity to the constituents of inhaler, inhaler or FP 250 History of severe milk protein allergy Administration of prescription or non-prescription medication that would significantly affect the course of asthma, or interact with study drug A subject must not be using or require the use of immunosuppressive medications during the study