Inclusion Criteria:

• Subject must be willing to give informed consent and be able to adhere to dose and visit schedules.
• History of chronic hepatitis C as documented by either anti-HCV or HCV RNA positivity.
• Adult subjects 19-70 years of age, of either gender
• Liver biopsy within 3 years prior to the screening 1 visit.
• Compensated liver disease with the following maximum hematologic, biochemical and serologic criteria at the Screening visit (WNL=within normal limits) Hemoglobin > 12 g/dl for females and >13 g/dl for males, WBC > 3000/mm3, Platelets > 80,000/mm3, Direct Bilirubin - WNL. Indirect bilirubin - WNL, Albumin - WNL, Serum Creatinine - WNL.
• Fasting glucose should be 70 -140 mg/dl, results between 116-140 require a HbA1c < 8.5%
• TSH - WNL
• Subjects with a history of mild depression may be considered for entry in to this study provided that a pretreatment assessment of the subject's affective status supports that the subject is clinically stable.
• Subjects with a history of substance abuse must have abstained from using the substance for at least one year prior to the Screening visit.
• Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) < 1:320
• No radiologic evidence of a focal mass suggestive of hepatoma and/or ascites.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or nursing subjects. Subjects who intend to become pregnant during the study period. Subjects with partners who intend to become pregnant during the study period.
• History of new hepatitis C exposure within the last 6 months
• Prior treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
• Current or intended use of G-CSF and/or GM-CSF during the stud period is prohibited. Current use of erythropoietin (EPO) is prohibited.
• Suspected hypersensitivity to any interferon product or ribavirin
• Participation in any other clinical trial within 30 days of Screening visit
• Treatment with any investigational drug within 30 days of Screening visit 1.
• Any other cause for liver disease other than CHC.
• Coagulopathies including hemophilia
• Hemoglobinopathies
• G6PD deficiency
• Coinfection with HIV and/or HBV
• Evidence of active or suspected malignancy or a history of malignancy within the last five years (with the exception of adequately treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin).
• Evidence of decompensated liver disease such as history or presence of ascites, bleeding varices or hepatic encephalopathy
• Subjects with organ transplants other than cornea or hair transplant
• Any Known preexisting medical condition, that could interfere with the subject's participation in and completion of the study.