The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of a treatment with TMC435 in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in patients who did not clear their hepatitis C infection with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin alone within a previous trial conducted by Tibotec, or who participated in Tibotec trials in which antivirals directed against hepatitis C virus (HCV) were evaluated for short periods of time.

This is a roll over trial of TMC435 for patients with genotype-1 HCV infection who participated in the control (placebo; substance containing no active medication) group of a TMC435 trial or who received a treatment for up to 14 days with antivirals directed against HCV in a previous Tibotec trial. Patients in this study will receive TMC435 in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) and ribavirin (Copegus) followed by peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin alone. The total treatment duration will be 24 or 48 weeks, depending on how the patients respond to treatment and which was their previous response to peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin alone. The study doctor will inform each patient about how to take their study medication and when they should stop taking it. After a patient stops taking study medication, they will contiue to come to the doctor's office for study visits until 24 weeks (in some cases up to 48 weeks) after end of treatment. The total duration of the study is 78 weeks (including screening). Patients will be monitored for safety throughout the study. Study assessments at each visit may include but are not limited to: blood and urine collection for testing, electrocardiogram (ECG) assessments (a measurement of the electrical activity of the heart) and physical examinations. TMC435 will be taken as an oral capsule of 150 mg once per day. Peginterferon (Pegasys) will be given as an injection of 180 µg once each week. Ribavirin will be taken as tablets (Copegus) twice each day and the dose will depend on patient's body weight.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who participated in the placebo arm of a TMC435 study who did not achieve undetectable HCV RNA levels at end of treatment or who relapsed within 1 year after end of treatment OR Patients who received short-term direct-acting antiviral therapy in a Tibotec-sponsored study.
• Liver disease stage documented by liver biopsy is required within 3 years prior to screening unless contraindicated.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Infection with human immunodeficiency virus.
• Liver disease not related to hepatitic C infection.
• Significant laboratory abnormalities or other active diseases.
• Pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
• Prematurely stopped medication in previous TMC435 study for non-compliance or for safety reasons.