Study of Nitazoxanide Combined With Peginterferon Compared to Peginterferon Monotherapy in the Treatment of Hepatitis C

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years. * Chronic hepatitis C infection (at least 6 months) evidenced by a positive enzyme immunoassay for anti-HCV-antibodies and a positive quantitative RT-PCR amplification of HCV RNA. * Chronic inflammation on liver biopsy compatible with a diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis. * HCV genotype 4. * Patients that have not previously received peginterferon. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients unable to take oral medications. * Use of ribavirin within 30 days prior to enrollment. * Females who are either pregnant, breast-feeding or not using birth control and are sexually active. * Any investigational drug therapy within 30 days prior to enrollment other than through Romark study number RM01-3027. * Patients with other causes of liver disease. * Transplant recipients receiving immune suppression therapy. * Patient co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis D virus based on enzyme immunoassay. * Patients with decompensated cirrhosis, thrombocytopenia (platelet count \<80,000), neutropenia, history of variceal bleeding, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy or CTP scores \>6. * Patients with history of alcoholism (unless abstinent for 2 years) or with an alcohol consumption of \>20 grams per day. * Patients who are clinically unstable. * Patients with any concomitant condition that, in the opinion of the investigator would preclude evaluation of response or make it unlikely that the contemplated course of therapy and follow-up could be completed. * History of hypersensitivity or intolerance to any of the excipients comprising the nitazoxanide tablets or peginterferon alfa-2b solution for injection.