Tailored Regimens of PEGASYS® and Ribavirin for Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Trial (TARGET-1)

Inclusion Criteria: * Male and female patients \*18 years of age * Patients have never been treated with traditional interferon plus ribavirin or peginterferon plus ribavirin * Serologic evidence of chronic hepatitis C infection by an anti-HCV antibody test * Detectable serum HCV-RNA and HCV viral genotype 1 * Liver biopsy findings consistent with the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C infection with or without compensated cirrhosis (Exception: hemophiliacs in whom biopsy is medically contra-indicated do not require biopsy.) * Compensated liver disease (Child-Pugh Grade A clinical classification) * Negative urine or blood pregnancy test (for women of childbearing potential) documented within the 24-hour period prior to the first dose of study drug * All fertile males and females receiving ribavirin must be using two forms of effective contraception during treatment and during the 6 months after treatment end Exclusion Criteria: * Women with ongoing pregnancy or breast feeding * Therapy with any systemic anti-neoplastic or immunomodulatory treatment (including supraphysiologic doses of steroids and radiation) \*6 months prior to the first dose of study drug * Any investigational drug \*6 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug * Co-infection with active hepatitis A, hepatitis B and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) * History or other evidence of a medical condition associated with chronic liver disease other than HCV (e.g., hemochromatosis, autoimmune hepatitis, metabolic liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, toxin exposures) * Signs or symptoms of hepatocellular carcinoma * History or other evidence of bleeding from esophageal varices or other conditions consistent with decompensated liver disease * Neutrophil count \<1500 cells/mm3 or platelet count \<90,000 cells/mm3 at screening