PEDS-C: Pegylated Interferon +/- Ribavirin for Children With Hepatitis C

Inclusion Criteria:

- Male or female patients who are 5-18 years of age at enrollment (not yet reached 18th
birthday at screening).

- HCV viremia (by any test) present on 2 tests separated by at least 6 months.

- Chronic liver disease, as indicated by inflammation and/or fibrosis, consistent with
chronic hepatitis C infection on a liver biopsy obtained within the past 24 months, as
assessed by a qualified pathologist, not consistent with other known liver disease and
not normal.

- Compensated liver disease (Child-Pugh Grade A clinical classification)

- Signed informed consent from parent/legal guardian and willingness of parent/legal
guardian to abide by the requirements of the study.

- Hemoglobin values >11 g/dL for females; > 12 g/dL for males

- Normal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

- Able to swallow a ribavirin/placebo tablet

Exclusion Criteria:

- Any prior treatment with Interferon or ribavirin (RV)

- Receipt of any investigational drug <6 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug

- Any systemic antiviral therapy <6 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug.
Exception: patients who have taken or are expected to require acyclovir for herpetic
lesions

- Positive test at screening for anti-HAV IgM Ab, HBsAg, anti-HBc IgM Ab, or anti-HIV Ab

- History or other evidence of a medical condition associated with chronic liver disease
other than HCV (abnormal ceruloplasmin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, ANA>1:160, SMA>1:80,
anti-LKM antibody > 60 units))

- History or other evidence of bleeding from esophageal varices

- Decompensated liver disease (e.g. conjugated bilirubin >1.5mg/dl, ascites, varices,
Child-Pugh Grade B or C clinical classification)

- History of autoimmune or immunologically mediated disease (e.g. inflammatory bowel
disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, lupus erythematosus, autoimmune
hemolytic anemia, scleroderma, severe psoriasis, clinical evidence of rheumatoid
arthritis)

- Absolute neutrophil count <1500 cells/mm3 , hemoglobin <11 g/dL for females and <12
g/dL for males, white blood count>17.5 x 109/L, or platelet count <90,000/ mm3

- Serum creatinine level >1.5 times the upper limit of normal for age

- Major depression according to the American Psychiatric Association, or a history of
severe psychiatric disorder, such as major psychoses, suicidal ideation and/or suicide
attempt

- History or other evidence of chronic pulmonary or cardiac disease associated with
functional limitation

- History of thyroid disease poorly controlled on prescribed medications. Patients with
elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations with elevation of antibodies
to thyroid peroxidase and any clinical manifestations of thyroid disease are excluded

- Poorly controlled diabetes as defined by glycosylated hemoglobin of > 8%

- History of solid organ or bone marrow transplantation

- Evidence of severe retinopathy

- Coagulopathy (international normalized ratio>1.5)

- Evidence of an active or suspected cancer or a history of malignancy where the risk of
recurrence is >20% within 2 years.

- Hemoglobinopathy

- Hemophilia

- Severe retinopathy

- History of other evidence of severe illness or any other conditions which would make
the patient, in the opinion of the investigator, unsuitable for the study

- Sexually active females of child-bearing potential (defined as age 10 years and older)
and sexually active men who are not practicing two forms of effective contraception
during treatment and during the 6 months after treatment has been concluded

- Females who have a positive serum pregnancy test within 7 days of initiation of
treatment or who are breast-feeding

- Males whose female partners are pregnant

- Active substance abuse

- A sibling and/or any other child living in the same household or sharing the same
primary caregiver enrolled in the study.