A Study of Albuferon With Ribavirin in Interferon Alfa Naive Subjects With Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 2 or 3

A Randomized, Multi-Center, Open-Label Study To Evaluate The Efficacy And Safety Of Albuferon (HGS 1008, Recombinant Human Albumin-Interferon Alfa Fusion Protein) In Combination With Ribavirin In Interferon Alfa Naive Subjects With Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 2 OR 3

A Study of Albuferon with Ribavirin in Interferon Alfa Naive Subjects with Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 2 or 3.

A Randomized, Multi-Center, Open-Label Study To Evaluate The Efficacy And Safety Of Albuferon (HGS 1008, Recombinant Human Albumin-Interferon Alfa Fusion Protein) In Combination With Ribavirin In Interferon Alfa Naive Subjects With Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 2 OR 3

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have a clinical diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C on the basis of detectable serum HCV RNA during the screening period and at least a 6-month history of exposure to risk factors for HCV.
• Have never received treatment with an interferon alfa product or an interferon alfa combination product.
• Have HCV genotype 2 or 3.
• Have compensated liver disease with the following minimum criteria: white blood cell count (WBC) >3,000/mm3, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1,800/mm3, platelets >100,000/mm3, hemoglobin (Hb) > 13 g/dL for males and > 12 g/dL for females.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Evidence of decompensated liver disease.
• Pregnant or lactating female.
• History of any other medical disease or condition that would make the subject (in the opinion of the investigator) unsuitable for the study.
• A current drug or alcohol addiction.