PEG Interferon Alfa-2b

Previously untreated adults with CHC genotype 1 were treated with the assigned study medication. Participants who had undetectable plasma HCV-RNA at FW 24 had achieved SVR. SVR rate is the percent of participants achieving SVR. HCV-RNA was detected by a nucleic acid amplification test and the limit of detection for this assay is 9.3 IU/mL. If a participant was missing data at FW 24 after having had undetectable HCV-RNA at FW 12, the participant was to be considered to have SVR.

Relapse was defined as Hepatitis C Virus ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) that was above the lower limit of quantitation at Year 5 of the LTFU.

To determine long-term effects of the Part 1 treatment on height, changes in height during the Part 2 LTFU were evaluated using height percentiles based on 2000 Center For Disease Control growth charts for the general population.

To determine long-term effects of the Part 1 treatment on weight, changes in weight during the Part 2 LTFU were evaluated using weight percentiles based on 2000 Center For Disease Control growth charts for the general population.

To determine long-term effects of the Part 1 treatment on BMI, changes in BMI during the Part 2 LTFU were evaluated using BMI percentiles based on 2000 Center For Disease Control growth charts for the general population.

The Tanner Stage (TS) defines physical measurements of sexual development based on external primary and secondary sex characteristics. Female participants are evaluated for breast development and pubic hair distribution and male participants are evaluated for genital development and pubic hair distribution, based on a 5-stage ordinal scale ranging from TS 1 (prepubertal/preadolescent characteristics) to TS 5 (mature or adult characteristics). Mean ages for attaining each TS in the normal population have been previously established based on measuring correlating reproductive hormone levels, and are expressed in years as follows for females (F) and males (M): TS 1= 7.1 (F+M); TS 2= 10.5 (F), 12.1 (M); TS 3= 11.6 (F), 13.6 (M); TS 4=, 12.3 (F), 15.1 (M); TS 5= 14.5 (F), 18 (M). To assess sexual maturation at the end of the LTFU (last observation), females and males were staged and the mean age at each TS attained was reported.

Serum HCV-RNA was qualitatively measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

For virological response, a participant was defined as a responder if his/her serum sample tested negative for Hepatitis D Virus - ribonucleic acid (HDV-RNA) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at end of treatment (EOT).

A participant was defined as a responder if his alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level after 52 weeks, i.e. at EOT, was below the upper reference range as specified by Bioclinica. The normal reference range for ALT is 5-55 U/L.

The combined response was defined as an ALT level below the upper reference range and a negative HDV-RNA test. The normal reference range for ALT is 5-55 U/L.

SVR is defined as undetectable hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) at 24 weeks post-treatment

A sustained virologic response is defined as undetectable hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid \[HCV-RNA\] 24 weeks post-treatment. Serum HCV-RNA is measured by HCV-PCR in local laboratories. HCV-RNA below the limit of detection is considered undetectable.

Definitions: Fibrosis scoring: F0 (no fibrosis), F1 (stellate enlargement of portal tract without septa formation, F2 (enlargement of portal tract with rare septa formation, F3 (numerous septa without cirrhosis), F4 (cirrhosis). Improved: Participants whose METAVIR fibrosis score at up to Month-36 decreases by 1 or more units compared to baseline. No Change: Participants whose METAVIR fibrosis score at up to Month-36 is the same as the baseline score. Worsened: Participants whose METAVIR fibrosis score at up to Month-36 increases by 1 or more units compared to baseline.

Clinical events are liver decompensation \[variceal bleeding, development of Child-Pugh Class C, hepatic encephalopathy ≥Grade 2, ascites\], hepatic carcinoma, death, and/or liver transplantation

Participants were tested for focal lesions by liver ultrasound and for AFP levels every 6 months the during study (treatment and follow-up). The development of hepatocellular carcinoma was determined by: 1. the appearance of a focal lesion detected by liver ultrasound with metastases confirmed by fine needle biopsy, or 2. the appearance of a focal lesion detected by ultrasound + alphafetoprotein (AFP) levels in blood \>400 ng/mL.

An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a study participant administered a pharmaceutical product that does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not related to the medicinal product.

An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a study participant administered a pharmaceutical product that does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not related to the medicinal product.