Safety and Efficacy of Albumin Interferon Administered Every 4 Weeks in Genotype 2/3 Hepatitis C Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Age of 18 years or older * Clinical diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C * Infection with HCV genotype 2 or 3 * No previous IFNα-based therapy Exclusion Criteria: * Women of child-bearing potential if not using double barrier method of contraception, pregnant or nursing * Fertile males, unless condom with spermicide is used and female partner agrees to use one or more of the acceptable methods until 7 months after last dose of RBV * History or current evidence of decompensated liver disease; other forms of liver disease * Coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) * History of moderate, severe or uncontrolled psychiatric disease * History of seizure disorder * History or clinical evidence of chronic cardiac disease, preexisting interstitial lung disease or severe lung disease * Clinically significant findings on eye/retinal examination * History of immunologically mediated disease * Organ transplantation other than cornea or hair transplant * History of clinically significant hemoglobinopathy * Diagnosis of malignancy of any organ system with the exception of localized basal cell carcinoma of the skin * History of galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption * History of hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or to drugs with similar chemical structures * Drug or alcohol addiction within the last 6 months and/or positive drug screening tests * Received systemic corticosteroids (prednisone equivalent of \> 10 mg/day) within 14 days prior to Baseline visit * Received concomitant systemic antibiotics, antifungals or antivirals for the treatment of active infection within 14 days prior to Baseline visit. * Received herbal therapies (including milk thistle or glycyrrhizin) or an investigational drug within 35 days prior to Baseline visit * Have a clinically significant laboratory abnormality Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.