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): 40.0-65.0,  Chronic Hepatitis C Infection Participant is a male or female between 40 to 65 years of age at the prestudy (screening) visit Participant has a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥18.5 kg/m2 and ≤36.0 kg/m2 Participant requires a diagnostic biopsy, per local treatment guidelines, to monitor progression of liver disease Participant has chronic compensated, genotype 1 HCV infection as defined by positive serology for HCV and detectable HCV RNA in peripheral blood Participant met pre-specified based on laboratory values at screening for the following: - Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): ≤400 U/L - Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): ≤400 U/L - Total bilirubin: ≤2.4 mg/dL - Direct bilirubin: ≤1.0 mg/dL -- Creatinine clearance (Clcr): ≥60 mL/min (by the Cockcroft-Gault equation*) - Albumin: ≥3.3 g/dL -  Participant is under the age of legal consent, is mentally or legally incapacitated/ institutionalized, has significant emotional problems at the time of prestudy screening visit or expected during the conduct of the study or has a history of a clinically significant psychiatric disorder which, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the study procedures Participant has a history of stroke, chronic seizures, or major neurological disorder Participant did not achieve a viral response to prior treatment with licensed interferon-based therapy (i.e., is a 'null responder'). Viral response is defined by a >= 2-log^10 decline in HCV viral RNA within the first 12 weeks of therapy Participant has previously been treated with an NS3/4A protease inhibitor for chronic HCV infection Evidence of high grade bridging fibrosis (eg, score >3, Ishak score >4 or Scheuer score >3) from prior liver biopsy within 3 years of study entry Participant has evidence or history of chronic hepatitis not caused by HCV including but not limited to non-HCV viral hepatitis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), drug-induced hepatitis or autoimmune hepatitis. Note: Participants with history of acute non-HCV-related hepatitis which resolved >6 months before study entry can be enrolled Participant has clinical or laboratory evidence of cirrhosis or other advanced liver disease Participant has decompensated liver disease as indicated by a history of ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or bleeding esophageal varices Participant has been diagnosed or suspected of hepatocellular carcinoma Participant has coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)