Patient description: A 53-year-old man presents with chronic HCV infection for the past 2 years. His past medical history is only significant for inguinal hernia surgery when he was 20 years old. He is on IFN (100 mg/week) plus RBV (400 mg/day) combination therapy for the past 9 months. Direct antiviral drugs were added to his treatment 6 months ago. His medical record shows previous positive HCV RNA tests as well as positive enzyme immunoassay for anti-HCV-antibodies. The recent biopsy was negative for hepatocellular carcinoma and was only remarkable for chronic inflammation compatible with a chronic viral hepatitis. There is no evidence of alcoholic liver disease, bleeding from esophageal varices, hemochromatosis, autoimmune hepatitis or metabolic liver disease. He is an alert male with no acute distress. His BP: 130/75, HR: 90/min and BMI: 27. His abdomen is soft with no ascites or tenderness. The lower extremities are normal with no edema.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 18.0-999.0,  Chronic Hepatitis C Serologic evidence of chronic hepatitis C infection by an anti-HCV test Serum HCV-RNA quantifiable at > 600 IU/mL or 1000 copies/mL by the Roche HCV Test, v2.0 Patients with both normal or elevated serum ALT are eligible Compensated liver disease (Child-Pugh grade A clinical classification) Patients with cirrhosis or transition to cirrhosis must have an abdominal ultrasonography, CT scan or MRI scan without evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and a serum AFP < 100 ng/mL within 2 months of randomization Negative urine or blood pregnancy test (for women of childbearing potential) documented within the 24 hour period prior to first dose of study drug All fertile males and females receiving RBV must be using two forms of effective contraception during treatment and during the 6 months after treatment ends  Women with ongoing pregnancy or breat feeding Therapy with any systemic anti-viral, anti-neoplastic or immunomodulatory treatment (including supraphysiologic soses of steroids and radiation) < 6 months prior to the first dose of study drug Any investigational drug < 6 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug Positive test at screening for anti-HAV IgM Ab, HBsAg, anti-HBsAg, anti-HBc Ab, anti-HIV Ab History or evidence of a medical condition associated with chronic liver disease other than HCV (e.g. hemochromatosis, autoimmune hepatitis, metabolic liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, toxin exposures) History or evidence of bleeding from esophageal varices or other conditions consistent with decompensated liver disease Neutrophil count < 1500/mm or platelet count < 90,000 cells/mm at screening Serum creatinine level > 1,5 times the ULN at screening History of severe psychiatric disease, especially depression. Severe psychiatric disease is defined as treatment with an antidepressant medication or neuroleptica at therapeutic doses for major depression or psychosis, respectively for at least 3 months at any previous time, or any history of the following; a suicidal attempt, hospitalization for psychiatric disease or a period of disability due to psychiatric disease History of severe seizure disorder or current anticonvulsant disease History of immunologically mediated disease (e.g. IBD, ITP, LED, AIHA, scleroderma, severe psoriasis or RA etc.)