Study was withdrawn due to 2 cases of agranulocytosis in a different clinical trial with this same drug.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of JNJ-39758979 compared with placebo in patients with uncontrolled asthma despite current treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and/or long-acting beta 2-agonist (LABA) and/or montelukast for at least 4 weeks.

This is a two-part study; each part of the study (Part 1 and Part 2) will be approximately 34 weeks in duration including a 4-week screening phase, a 24-week placebo-controlled treatment phase and a six-week follow-up phase. In Part 1, patients will be randomly assigned to receive placebo or JNJ-39758979 300 mg once daily through Week 24. In Part 2, patients will be randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups to receive treatment with placebo, 30 mg, 100 mg, or 300 mg of JNJ-39758979 once daily through Week 24. Safety assessments and evaluations to determine the efficacy of JNJ-39758979 to reduce the signs and symptoms of asthma will be performed both on a daily basis via electronic diary and at study visits.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Has a diagnosis of asthma for at least 6 months before screening. -Has been receiving inhaled corticosteroids (≤ 1000 µg fluticasone or its equivalent) alone or in conjunction with long-acting Beta 2-agonist (salmeterol, formoterol, etc.) and/or montelukast.
• Have an ACQ score ≥ 1.5 at screening. - Must be healthy and medically stable on the basis of physical examination, medical history, vital signs, and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) performed at screening
• Must be post-menopausal or if pre-menopausal, must use an acceptable method of birth control.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has ever had a life-threatening asthma attack including respiratory arrest, intubation, or intensive care unit admission due to asthma. -Has a history of any other chronic respiratory condition including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (mycosis), occupational asthma, sleep apnea or pulmonary hypertension.-Has initiated or discontinued allergen immunotherapy within 12 weeks of screening. -Has smoked within 3 years of screening or has a history of smoking ≥ 10 pack years (1 pack year = 20 cigarettes smoked per day for 1 year) or equivalent, or a positive urine cotinine test at Screening. -Has any known malignancy or has a history of malignancy with the exceptions of basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. -Has chronic or recurrent infectious disease, including, but not limited to: active tuberculosis.-Has a clinically significant, acute respiratory infection within 4 weeks of screening. -Has had a substance abuse (drug or alcohol) problem within the previous 3 years.