Phase II Study of Immunization With a Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Antigen Peptide Vaccine

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C * Non-response to or relapse from primary standard HCV therapy * HLA A2 positive * HCV-RNA positive * HCV antibodies positive * Liver biopsy within 30 months prior to inclusion * Hematology and biochemistry laboratory results within the limits normally expected for the patient population (liver values maximal 5 times the upper limit of normal) * Male and female * From 18 to 65 years * Written informed consent obtained prior to study entry Exclusion Criteria: * Any degree of liver cirrhosis or fibrosis of Ishak score ≥ 4 (for grading table, see APPENDIX 2: The Ishak Modified Hepatic Activity Index (HAI)) * Any liver disease other than hepatitis C * History of autoimmune disease * Immunodeficiency including post-organ-transplantation * HIV infection * Immunosuppressive therapy * Any acute infections within 4 weeks prior to inclusion * History of severe hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylaxis or atopy * Diabetes mellitus, severe cardiopulmonary disorders, history of malignancy in the past 5 years * Active or passive vaccination within 2 months prior to enrolment, and concomitant vaccination throughout the study period * Pregnancy or lactation * Unreliable contraception * Alcohol consumption * Drug abuse or addiction within 12 months prior to inclusion * Participation in a methadone program * Participation in another study within 1 month prior to enrolment