Antiviral Activity and Safety of 3 Different Doses of Mifepristone in Hepatitis C Infected Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Hepatitis C infection for ≥ 1 year. Viral load at entry will be measured by the Amplicor Hepatitis C Virus Test Version 2.0 (Roche Molecular Systems; Plesasanton, CA) and genotyped by Trugene HCV 5'NC Genotyping kit (Visible Genetics; Toronto, Canada) performed within 90 days prior to study entry by a lab(s) certified for the assays. * Male or female ages 18-65 years, inclusive. * Plasma hepatitis C RNA of \>105 copies/mL (or equivalent international units) * Laboratory values: stable hepatic, renal, and hematological indices obtained within 30 days prior to study entry, as follows: * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 750/mm³ * Hemoglobin \>= 10.0 g/dL * Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm3 * Creatinine \<= 2 x ULN * AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase \<= 3 x ULN * Total bilirubin \<= 3 x ULN * Albumin \>= 3 g/dL * Normal PT and PTT * Serum lipase \<= 1.5 x ULN * TSH within normal limits (0.5-6.0 mIU/L) * Morning plasma cortisol \>= 20 µg/dL * Normal fasting glucose * Urinalysis free of clinically significant abnormalities NOTE: Fasting is defined as no oral intake except water for at least 8 hours prior to the study visit. * Female subjects of reproductive potential (girls who have reached menarche or women who have not been post-menopausal for at least 24 consecutive months, i.e., who have had menses within the preceding 24 months or have not undergone surgical sterilization \[e.g., hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or salpingotomy\]) must have a negative spot urine pregnancy test result (with a sensitivity of at least 50 mIU/mL) performed at entry, before initiating study medication. * All subjects must agree not to participate in a conception process (e.g., active attempt to become pregnant or to impregnate, donate sperm, or in vitro fertilization). If participating in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy, the subject/partner must agree to use two reliable methods of contraception simultaneously (condoms with a spermicidal agent; or a diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide) while on study drug and for 30 days after stopping the medication. * Female subjects, who are not of reproductive potential, are eligible without requiring the use of contraception. Male subjects must use a condom with every sexual act that could lead to pregnancy. NOTE: Acceptable documentation of sterilization is either written or oral documentation communicated by clinician or clinician's staff of one of the following: physician report/letter: operative report or other source documentation in the patient record (a laboratory report of azoospermia is required to document successful vasectomy); discharge summary; laboratory report of azoospermia; or FSH measurement elevated into the menopausal range as established by the reporting laboratory. * Karnofsky performance score \>= 80 within 30 days prior to study entry. * Ability and willingness of subject to give written informed consent. * Willingness to return for a follow-up visit on day 56. * Subjects taking any precautionary concomitant medications (see section 5.2.2) must be on stable doses for \>8 weeks prior to study entry and have no plans to change medications or doses for the duration of the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Receipt of anti-hepatitis C therapy within the 4 weeks prior to study entry or intent to initiate ant-hepatitis C therapy within 60 days after entry. * Clinical evidence of cirrhosis or decompensated liver failure. * Chronic or acute adrenal failure, history of active hepatitis B, HIV-1 infection, porphyrias, known moderate to severe cirrhosis, hemorrhagic disorders, concurrent anticoagulant therapy, any prior pituitary tumor, surgery, radiation treatment, or pituitary failure. * Diabetes requiring treatment with oral hypoglycemics or insulin therapy. * Pregnancy within 90 days prior to study entry. * Breast-feeding. * Dysfunctional uterine bleeding within the 12 months prior to study entry. * Any current hormonal contraception or IUD use. * Use of drugs that are inhibitors or inducers of metabolism by the CYP 3A4 within 7 days of study entry. * Use of systemic corticosteroids or hormonal agents within 90 days prior to study entry. * Use of any cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunomodulators or investigational therapy within 90 days prior to study entry. * Any vaccination within 30 days prior to study entry. * Allergy to mifepristone or its formulation. * Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirement. * Weight \< 40 kg. * Any other condition thought by the investigator that may interfere with the patient's ability to comply with the study protocol.