Patient description: The patient is a 55-year-old man diagnosed with HCV 2 years ago and the recent coinfection with HBV. His past medical history is non-significant. He is on IFN, RBV and direct antiviral drugs for the past 6 months. The patient takes no other medications. His medical records show previous positive HCV RNA tests and a 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): 19.0-999.0,  Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Relapse Subject must be willing to give informed consent and be able to adhere to dose and visit schedules History of chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, non-responders or relapsers as documented by genotype testing and HCV RNA levels at 12 weeks ( < 2 log change) during therapy or at 3 months post therapy, respectively Adult subjects 18-70 years of age, of either gender Liver biopsy within 3 years prior to the screening 1 visit with a pathology report confirming that the histological diagnosis is consistent with chronic hepatitis C Compensated liver disease with the following maximum hematologic, biochemical and serologic at the Screening visit (WNL=within normal limits) Hemoglobin > 12 g/dl for females and >13 g/dl for males, WBC > 3000/mm3, Platelets > 80,000/mm3, Direct Bilirubin WNL. Indirect bilirubin WNL, Albumin WNL, Serum Creatinine - WNL Fasting glucose should be 70 -140 mg/dl, results between 116-140 require a HbA1c < 8.5%  Pregnant or nursing subjects. Subjects who intend to become pregnant during the study period. Subjects with partners who intend to become pregnant during the study period Prior response to therapy and failure to achieve SVR which may have been due to treatment non-compliance, in the assessment of the investigator based upon subject's medical history Participation in any clinical trial of a HCV protease inhibitor of any duration. Subjects may have received other investigational agents for the treatment of HCV, as long as they have also received an adequate course of Peg-IFN/RBV [i.e., the investigational agent could not have replaced either Peg-IFN (such as Albuferon) or RBV (viramidine)] History of new hepatitis C exposure within the last 6 months Current or intended use of G-CSF and/or GM-CSF during the stud period is prohibited. Current use of erythropoietin (EPO) is prohibited Suspected hypersensitivity to any interferon product or ribavirin Participation in any other clinical trial within 30 days of Screening visit 1 Treatment with any investigational drug within 30 days of Screening visit 1 Any other cause for liver disease other than CHC, including but not limited to: hemachromatosis, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, Wilson's disease, Autoimmune hepatitis, Alcoholic liver disease, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), Drug-related liver disease Known coagulopathies including hemophilia