The purpose of the study is to Evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of single inhaled doses of VR942 in healthy subjects (part 1) and repeated doses in mild asthmatics (part 2).

Inclusion Criteria for Part I & 2:

• Male or female subject.
• Female subjects of non-childbearing potential
• Weigh at least 50 kg, and body mass index 18.0-31.0
• Peak inspiratory flow (PIF) of at least 60 L/min for at least 2 sec
• Forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of at least 0.7 at the screening visit
• Willingness to give written consent to participate after reading the information and consent form
• Willingness to give written consent to have data entered into The Over volunteering Prevention System.
• Additional inclusion criteria for Part 1:
• Healthy subjects with FEV1 and FVC of at least 80% of the predicted value at the screening visit
• Additional inclusion criteria for Part 2:
• Patients with documented clinical history of mild bronchial asthma (mild as defined by the GINA guidelines1) for at least 6 months before the screening visit
• Patient FEV1 and FVC of at least 70% of the predicted value at the screening visit

Exclusion Criteria for Part 1 & 2:

• Clinically relevant abnormal history, physical findings, ECG, or laboratory values at the pre-trial screening assessment

• Presence of acute or chronic illness or history of chronic illness sufficient to invalidate the subject's participation in the trial or make it unnecessarily hazardous (excluding mild asthma in Part 2)

• Impaired endocrine, thyroid, hepatic, respiratory (excluding mild asthma in Part 2) or renal function, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, cancer, or history of any psychotic mental illness

• Respiratory tract infection within 4 weeks before the screening visit

• History of surgery or medical intervention, or planned surgery or medical intervention

• Presence or history of severe adverse reaction to any drug, or sensitivity to components of the trial medication

• Use of a prescription or over-the-counter medicine, with the exception of acetaminophen (paracetamol), during the 7 days before the first dose of trial medication. For Part 2 only, inhaled short-acting ß2 agonists, and ICS (stable dose with at least 2 weeks documented use of ≥80% compliance before screening and Day -1) are permitted

• Participation in another clinical trial of a new chemical entity, new device, or a prescription medicine within the 3 months before dosing, or participation within 5 half-lives of receiving an experimental drug (whichever is longer)

• Presence or history of drug or alcohol abuse

• Evidence of drug abuse on urine testing, or a positive test for alcohol

• Current smoker; or ex-smokers who (a) gave up less than 1 year ago, or (b) who have a history of more than 10 pack-years

• Blood pressure and heart rate at the screening examination outside the ranges 90-140 mm Hg systolic, 40-90 mm Hg diastolic; heart rate 40-100 beats/min.

• Loss of more than 400 mL blood, eg as a blood donor, or donation of blood products, during the 3 months before the trial

• Positive test for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV

• Possibility that the subject will not cooperate with the requirements of the protocol, including effective use of the DPI

• Additional exclusion criteria for Part 2:

• Life-threatening asthmatic episode in the past

• Asthmatic episode or respiratory tract infection requiring steroid treatment in the past 3 months

• Use of the following medicines within the specified time before screening:

  • Long-acting ß2 agonists; At any time before screening
  • Anti IgE therapy; 6 months
  • Inhaled corticosteroids (>500 µg per day of beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) or equivalent); 8 weeks
  • Oral or injectable steroids; 8 weeks
  • Intranasal or topical steroids; 4 weeks
  • Leukotriene antagonists; 2 weeks
  • Xanthines (excluding caffeine), anticholinergics, cromoglycates; 1 week