New therapies show great promise.

Developments in asthma therapies will allow patients more choices and a wider range of methods for taking their medications. "I think the options of having asthma-controlling medicines available as pills or other modalities, in addition to metered-dose inhalers [MDIs], particularly ones that can be administered once or twice daily, will offer some lifestyle advantages to people," suggests Robert J. Meyer, medical team leader of the Food and Drug Administration's Division of Pulmonary Drug Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Rockville, Md.

Among the innovations taking place are increased availability of dry-powder inhalers, oral medications, and inhalers that use new propellants. The changes are being spurred by several factors, including technical advances and the transition away from inhalers that contain chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). The U.S. and other countries initiated a ban on ozone-depleting CFCs in 1996, although MDIs for asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease are exempted from that ban. However, these exemptions are intended to be temporary, and there will be a future transition away from CFC use. The ban has prompted not only reformulation of MDIs with new gasses, but the wider development of dry-powder inhalers and new devices such as hand-held nebulizers.

Meyer says a positive...