Recombinant Human Serum Albumin/Interferon alpha2a Fusion Protein Phase Ib Study in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female, aged 18-75 years * Chronic HBV infection (serum HBsAg detectable for \> 6 months) * Serum HBeAg positive with HBV DNA \>10\^6copies/mL (or \>20,000 IU/mL),orSerum HBeAg negative with HBV DNA \>10\^5copies/mL (or \>2,000 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. * Interferon therapy or nucleotides analogues therapy in 6 months prior to entry. * Active lung disease or history of interstitial lung disease. * Hb\< LLN or, and ANC \< 750/mm3 or , and platelet count \< 75,000 mm3 ,or WBC\<3000/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 thyroid disease or current treatment for thyroid disease. Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply