A Phase Ⅱ Dose-escalating Study of PEG-IFN-SA and Ribavirin in IFN Naive Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C

Total 200 subjects will be randomized and enrolled into four groups proportionally receiving experimental drug of high dose, middle dose, low dose and positive-control drug. Treatment duration will be 24 or 48 weeks corresponding to different HCV genotype, genotype 2,3 and non-genotype2,3.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18- 65 years
• Body Mass Index (BMI) 18-30
• Chronic hepatitis C , diagnosed according to Chinese guideline of Hepatitis C (year 2004)
• Detectable serum HCV-RNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay and positive anti-HCV antibody
• Female subjects of childbearing age with no history of menopause and negative pregnancy test, both female and male( including their partners ) subjects were required to conduct adequate contraception since screening until the 6 months after treatment
• Volunteered to participate in this study, understood and signed an informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Previous IFN treated patients
• Co-infection with HAV, HBV, HEV, EBV, CMV and HIV
• Evidences of hepatic decompensation, including but not limited to serum total bilirubin> 2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN); serum albumin <35g/L; prothrombin activity (PTA) <60%; ascites, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy; Child-Pugh score B/C grade
• Hepatotoxic drugs was used for a long time within past 6 months
• Diagnosed with primary hepatocellular carcinoma or supported by evidences including but not limited to AFP> l00ng/ml, suspicious liver nodules by imaging examinations
• Liver diseases from causes other than HCV infection, including alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, drug-induced hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis (antinuclear antibody titer higher than 1:100), hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson's disease) and hemochromatosis, etc.
• White blood cell count <3×109/L; Neutrophil count<1.5×109/L; platelet count<90×109/L; hemoglobin below the lower limit of normal
• Serum creatinine not within the normal range
• Serum creatine kinase> 3 ULN
• Positive thyroid antibodies (A-TPO, A-TG)
• Therapy with potent immunomodulatory agents such as adrenocorticotropic hormone, thymosin α1 etc. within past 6 months or an anticipated usage during the period of study
• Allergies or severe allergies, especially allergic to study drugs or any ingredients of the study drugs
• Severe autoimmune diseases; psychiatric and nervous system disorders, including history of Psychiatric illness or with family history (especially depression, depressive tendencies, epilepsy and hysteria, etc.); Serious blood disorders (all kinds of anemia, hemophilia, etc.); Severe kidney disease (chronic kidney disease, renal insufficiency, etc.); poorly controlled digestive diseases; endocrine disorders such as thyroid disease and diabetes; severe respiratory disease (pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, etc.); cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, uncontrolled coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, heart failure, etc.); retinal disease; malignancies; or unsuitable for study considered by clinician
• Function organs transplant
• Evidence of alcohol or drug abuse (average alcohol consumption male> 40g / day, female> 20g / day)
• Pregnant or lactating women
• Usage of prohibition drugs in this study
• Participated in other clinical trials 3 months prior to the screening
• Unwilling to sign the informed consent and adhere to treatment requirements
• Other conditions not suitable for study judged by investigators