Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with mild steroid-naïve asthma (ATS criteria) of either sex with FEV1 >70 % pred
• Able to produce sputum after sputum induction
• Exhaled NO (flow 50 ml/s) ≥ 20 ppb
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current upper respiratory tract infections
• Use of inhaled and/or oral GCS within 4 weeks prior to visit 1
• Treatment with antileukotrienes, theophylline, tiotropium and ipratropium within 2 weeks prior to screening visit
• Hypersensitivity to any of the investigational drugs or lactose
• Use of any -blocking agent (including eye-drops)
• Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding or planning a pregnancy during the study. Women must be postmenopausal (at least one year must have passed after the last menstruation), surgically sterile or using acceptable contraceptives, as judged by the investigator
• Any significant disease or disorder (e.g. cardiovascular, pulmonary (other than asthma), gastrointestinal, liver, renal, neurological, musculoskeletal, endocrine, metabolic, malignant, psychiatric, major physical impairment) which, in the opinion of the investigator, may either put the subject at risk because of participation in the study, or may influence the results of the study, or the subjects ability to participate in the study
• Inability to tolerate temporary withdrawal of bronchodilatory therapy
• Subjects not considered capable, as judged by the investigator, of following instructions of the study, e.g. because of a history of alcohol or drug abuse or any other reason
• Previous randomization in this study