A Study of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Polymerase Inhibitor Pro-Drug in Combination With PEGASYS With or Without COPEGUS in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) Genotype 1 Infection.

A Randomized, Double-blind Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of the HCV Polymerase Inhibitor Pro-drug in Combination With Pegasys, With or Without Copegus, Versus Pegasys Plus Copegus, in Treatment-naïve Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C, Genotype 1

This 4 arm study will compare the safety and tolerability of HCV polymerase inhibitor pro-drug in combination with PEGASYS +/- COPEGUS with the standard of care therapy of PEGASYS + COPEGUS, in treatment-naive patients with CHC, genotype 1. Patients will be randomized to receive 1500mg or 3000mg po bid of HCV polymerase inhibitor pro-drug + PEGASYS, 1500mg of HCV polymerase inhibitor pro-drug + PEGASYS + COPEGUS or PEGASYS + COPEGUS for 4 weeks. All patients who receive at least one dose of study medication will receive open label PEGASYS + Copegus for an additional 44 weeks after the 4 week experimental period. The anticipated time on study treatment is 3-12 months, and the target sample size is <100 individuals.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult patients, 18-65 years of age;
• CHC without liver cirrhosis or incomplete/transition to liver cirrhosis, genotype 1;
• chronic liver disease consistent with CHC.

Exclusion Criteria:

• infection with any HCV genotype other than genotype 1;
• previous treatment for CHC;
• medical condition associated with chronic liver disease other than CHC;
• HIV, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B infection.