Study Comparing the Tolerability and Viral Reduction of the Combination of IFN a-2b XL + Ribavirin Versus Peg IFN a-2b + Ribavirin in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C, Genotype 1 or 4

Interferon alfa-2b XL (IFN alfa-2b XL) is a novel sustained release interferon α-2b drug product that is being developed by FLAMEL TECHNOLOGIES using its Medusa® technology, aiming at reducing the toxicity and enhancing the biological response. In the present study, patients will be randomly assigned to either IFN alfa-2b XL 27 MUI, IFN alfa-2b XL 36 MUI, or IFN peg alfa-2b 1.5 µg/kg, all administered once a week for 12 weeks by subcutaneous injections, in combination with weight dosed ribavirin daily administered orally in two divided doses. Doses will be adapted according to the dose modification guidelines for combination therapy labelled in the ribavirin prescribing information.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient having voluntarily signed the Informed Consent Form prior to any study specific procedure being performed
• Male or female HCV genotype 1 or 4 infected patients (positive serum HCV RNA), aged between 18 and 65 years inclusive, with a body mass within the range over or equal of 45Kg and below or equal to 100 Kg
• Patient being either naïve to therapy, either non-responder to previous standard Peg-interferon α + ribavirin therapy,
• With no absolute contra-indication to interferon α or ribavirin
• Female patients must be non-lactating and of non-childbearing potential, or have a negative pregnancy test results to enter the study
• No evidence of acute or advanced liver disease, uncontrolled diabetes, cardiovascular, immunological, or thyroid disease, and no recently diagnosed malignancy
• Vital signs within normal ranges, or if outside the normal ranges, not deemed clinically significant in the opinion of the Investigator. An ECG with no clinically significant abnormalities

Exclusion criteria

• History of solid organ transplantation
• Severe systemic infection, uncontrolled diabetes, cancers, associated liver disease
• General anesthesia or recent blood transfusion