Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic of Albinterferon Alfa-2b in Chronic Hepatitis B, eAg+, Infection Subjects

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female, aged 18-75 years of either non-child bearing potential or if of child bearing potential on two adequate forms of birth control * Chronic HBV infection (serum HBsAg detectable for \> 6 months) * Serum HBeAg positive with HBV DNA \>106copies/mL (or \>200,000 IU/mL) * Serum ALT must be \> 2 x ULN but below 10 x ULN Exclusion Criteria: * Steroid treatment or immunosuppression 3 months prior to entry. * Chest X-ray with clinically significant active inflammatory process, history of significant pulmonary disease or any history of interstitial lung disease. * Hb\< 10g/dL or, and ANC \< 750/mm3 or , and platelet count \< 75,000 mm3 . * Significant chronic medical conditions other than chronic hepatitis B which in the opinion of the investigator preclude enrollment into the study. * Evidence of hepatic decompensation (i.e., Child-Pugh score of B or C). * Seropositive for HIV, HCV, or HDV (Hepatitis Delta virus). * History of hypothyroidism or current treatment for thyroid disease. * Patients with treated or untreated malignancy of any organs, with the exception of localized basal cell carcinoma Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply