The selective 2-adrenoceptor agonists were developed in the late 1960´ies. Allan & Hanbury (Glaxo) focused on saligenins (11) and developed salbutamol for inhalation (12). Henry Persson, an experienced experimental pharmacologist at Draco in Lund (a subsidiary of Astra), was the father of terbutaline (Bricanyl® , Breathair® , Terbasmin® , etc), a ß2-agonist belonging to the resorcinols (13). Draco, at that time, believed in oral treatments and Bricanyl became the leading oral ß2-agonist formulation world wide. Salbutamol (VentolineTM) became the leading ß2-agonist for inhalation.
During the 1970´ies regular treatment with inhaled or oral ß2-agonist was the medication of choice when treating patients with asthma. Additional doses were given as required.
Gradually it became evident that the chronic use of ß2-agonists was associated with an increase in bronchial reactivity (14,15) and less good asthma control (16) even if there was an immediate reduction in reactivity during the first 1-2 hours after dosing.
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