Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female subjects, 18-65 years of age, inclusive.
2. Cases will be genotype 1 (confirmed by standard testing). Enrollment of controls will not be restricted by genotype.

3. All patients must show evidence of chronic hepatitis C, confirmed by detectable plasma HCV RNA. Chronic disease status must be confirmed by at least one of the following standard criteria:

   History of a remote risk factor, or Abnormal ALT levels for >6 months prior to screening period (Note: elevated ALT is not an inclusion criteria, if one of the other criteria for "chronic" hepatitis C is met), or Detectable HCV RNA for at least 6 months before the screening period

4. Liver biopsy obtained within 24 months of study enrollment demonstrating absence of cirrhosis (stage 0-3) for cases. Enrollment of controls will not be restricted by stage of fibrosis.
5. Judged to be in good health on the basis of medical history and physical examination (including vital signs and ECG), with any chronic medical conditions under stable medical control.

6. Screening Visit laboratory values must be within the following:

   • Laboratory variable: acceptable range
   • Absolute neutrophil count: 1200/cmm³
   • Platelet count: 90,000/cmm³
   • Hemoglobin: within normal range
   • HbsAg (screening visit only): seronegative
   • HIV1 and 2 Ab (screening visit only): seronegative

   In addition, all other hematology and clinical chemistry must be within normal limits or show no clinically significant abnormalities.

7. Subjects (or their female partners) must be not pregnant, planning to become pregnant within the next 72 weeks, or they must be permanently sterile or otherwise of non childbearing potential. They must also not be breastfeeding. If of child-bearing potential, subjects must agree to use 2 effective methods of contraception from screening through 6 months after the last dose of RBV. Male subjects who have a female partner of childbearing potential must agree to use 2 effective methods of contraception from Screening through 7 months after the last dose of RBV unless vasectomized.
8. Female subjects must have a negative pregnancy test at all visits (screening and predose Day 1) before the first dose of study drugs.
9. Willing to refrain from the concomitant use of any medications, substances or foods.
10. Able to read and understand the Informed Consent Form (ICF) and willing to sign the ICF and abide by the study requirements and restrictions.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Received more than 4 weeks of any approved or investigational drug or drug regimen for the treatment of hepatitis C.

2. Any medical contraindications to Peg-IFN alpa-2a or RBV therapy, including any of the following:

   1. Abnormal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels or poorly controlled thyroid function
   2. Evidence of clinically significant cardiac dysfunction;
   3. History of psychiatric disorders determined by the investigator to contraindicate the use of IFN-based therapy;
   4. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer 1:320;
   5. History of hemoglobinopathies.
3. Patients coinfected with either human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV).
4. Decompensated liver disease as indicated by a history of ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or bleeding esophageal varices.
5. Diagnosed or suspected hepatocellular carcinoma. Alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) during screening must be less than 100 ng/mL.

6. For cases, histologic evidence of hepatic cirrhosis on any liver biopsy

   o Most recent liver biopsy must be within 2 years prior to study screening.

7. Has taken any of the prohibited medications within 28 days of initiation of therapy.
8. A history of any illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, might confound the results of the study or pose an additional risk in administering study drug to the subject. This may include but is not limited to a history of relevant drug or food allergies, history of cardiovascular or central nervous system disease, history or presence of clinically significant illness, or history of mental illness that may affect compliance with study requirements.
9. Alcohol abuse or excessive use (in the opinion of the investigator, as judged by medical history) in the last 12 months.
10. Participation in any investigational drug study within 90 days before drug administration or participation in more than 2 drug studies in the last 12 months (exclusive of the current study).
11. For cases, hypersensitivity to tartrazine (known as yellow dye #5).
12. Men whose female partners are pregnant