Hepatitis C is a major cause of liver disease leading to cirrhosis. All patients had chronic HCV infection with confirmation of chronic hepatitis on liver biopsy. One hundred three patients completed treatment for 26 weeks, and six patients dropped out. Histological improvement, as evidenced by a decrease in HAI of more than two points, occurred in the combination therapy arm more frequently than in comparison groups. The combination of TA1 and standard IFN treatment for chronic hepatitis C showed evidence of biological activity at the completion of treatment by biochemical, histological, and virological outcome measures.
Further research involving longer duration and varied dosing is needed.