Conflict of interest: D. Singh reports personal fees from Chiesi, during the conduct of the studies; personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Cipla, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Glenmark, Menarini, Mundipharma, Novartis, Peptinnovate, Pfizer, Pulmatrix, Theravance and Verona, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: J.C. Virchow reports personal fees for advisory board work and travel reimbursement from Chiesi, during the conduct of the studies; and has lectured and received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Avontec, Bayer, Bencard, Bionorica, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Essex/Schering-Plough, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, Leti, MEDA, Merck, MSD, Mundipharma, Novartis, Nycomed/Altana, Pfizer, Revotar, Sanofi/Regeneron, Sandoz-Hexal, Stallergens, TEVA, UCB/Schwarz-Pharma, Zydus/Cadila and possibly others, and participated in advisory boards and received honoraria from Avontec, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Essex/Schering-Plough, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, MEDA, MSD, Mundipharma, Novartis, Paul-Ehrlich Institut, Regeneron, Revotar, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Sanofi/Regeneron, Sandoz-Hexal, TEVA, UCB/Schwarz-Pharma and possibly others, and received funding for research from Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft, Land Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, GSK, MSD and has advised the Bemeinsame Bundesausschuss (GBA). Conflict of interest: G.W. Canonica reports personal fees from A. Menarini, Alk-Abello, Allergy Therapeutics, AstraZeneca-Medimmune, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi Farmaceutici, Genentech, Guidotti-Malesci, GlaxoSmithKline, Hal Allergy, Merck Sharp & Dome, Mundipharma, Novartis, Orion, Sanofi-Aventis, Sanofi Genzyme/Regeneron, Stallergenes-Greer, Uriach Pharma, Teva, Valeas and ViforPharma, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: A. Vele is an employee of Chiesi, the sponsor of the two studies. Conflict of interest: M. Kots is an employee of Chiesi, the sponsor of the two studies. Conflict of interest: G. Georges is an employee of Chiesi USA, Inc. Conflict of interest: A. Papi reports grants, personal fees for board membership, consultancy, lectures and travel expenses reimbursement, from Chiesi, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Boehringer Ingelheim, Mundipharma and TEVA, personal fees for lectures and travel expenses reimbursement from Menarini, Novartis and Zambon, personal fees for consultancy, lectures and travel expenses reimbursement from Sanofi, outside the submitted work.