Study of Nitazoxanide, Peginterferon, and Ribavirin Combination Therapies in the Treatment of Chronic 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. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who have previously failed to respond to ≥12 weeks of peginterferon-ribavirin combination therapy. * Females who are either pregnant, breast-feeding or not using birth control and are sexually active. * Males whose female partners are pregnant. * Patients with other causes of liver disease (i.e., autoimmune hepatitis, decompensated liver disease). * Patients co-infected with hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus or hepatitis D virus. * Patients with a history of alcoholism or with an alcohol consumption of \>40 grams per day. * Patients with hemoglobinopathies (i.e., thalassemia major, sickle-cell anemia). * 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, peginterferon alfa-2a injectionable solution or ribavirin tablets.