The criteria listed below are only the main inclusion or exclusion criteria (due to limited posting capacity), a complete list will be provided by the study officials.

Key Inclusion Criteria:

• Positive HBsAg equal to or greater than 6 months prior to screening and positive HBeAg at screening.
• Serum HBV DNA greater than or equal to 1 x 100,000 copies/mL (PCR assay) at initial or confirmatory screening visit.
• Serum ALT levels greater than or equal to 1.5 x ULN at both initial and confirmatory screening visits.
• Compensated liver disease with anticipated survival greater than 12 months and with the following laboratory and clinical parameters within 4 weeks of baseline: *Prothrombin time less than or equal to 1 second above normal range. *Total bilirubin less than 1.3 mg/dL or normal direct bilirubin. *Serum albumin greater than 3 g/dL (greater than 30 g/L). *No clinical history of ascites, variceal bleeding, encephalopathy or splenomegaly. *Adequate renal function defined as creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 80 mL/min.

Key Exclusion Criteria:

• Received immunoglobulin, interferon or lamivudine therapy within 6 months prior to initial screening visit.
• Participated in any investigational trial with any investigational compound within 2 months prior to initial screening.
• Organ or bone marrow transplant recipients.
• Clinical evidence of decompensated liver disease.
• A Child-Pugh-Turcotte score greater than 6.
• Inability to comply with study requirements.