<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Caucasians, male or female aged between 18 and 70 years<br><br>          -  Indication: serological proof of a chronic hepatitis C infection with positive result<br>             of anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) test and detectable HCV- Ribo Nucleic Acid (RNA) in<br>             serum<br><br>          -  Proven HCV genotype 1 by means of the reverse hybridization assays<br><br>          -  Proven histological infection activity within the liver with or without proven<br>             compensated cirrhosis within the last 24 months prior to start of the study<br>             (Child-Pugh degree A)<br><br>          -  Participants without previous anti-HCV therapy<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Known hypersensitivity to interferon or ribavirin or any of the other component parts<br><br>          -  Pregnant or nursing women, women with child bearing potential and without using a high<br>             effective method of contraception. The urine and serum pregnancy test at visit 0 in<br>             fertile participants or cohabitants of participants must show a negative result<br><br>          -  Male partners of pregnant women<br><br>          -  Infection with HCV genotype 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6<br><br>          -  Pretreatment with interferon and/or ribavirin<br><br>          -  Immunocompromised participants<br><br>          -  Treatment of systemic anti-neoplastic or immunomodulatoric medication (including<br>             supraphysiological doses of steroids or radiation therapy) within the last 6 months<br>             prior to the start of treatment and during the complete time interval of study<br>             treatment<br><br>          -  Chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis C virus (e.g. haemochromatosis,<br>             autoimmunohepatitis, metabolic or alcohol-related liver disease)<br><br>          -  Decompensated liver cirrhosis or liver disease Child-Pugh degree B or C or condition<br>             after decompensation<br><br>          -  Signs of a hepatocellular carcinoma within 2 months prior to randomization in case of<br>             a cirrhosis or a transition to cirrhosis<br><br>          -  Ascites or esophagus varices with bleedings as documented in anamnesis<br><br>          -  Any medical condition that questions in the opinion of the investigator the<br>             participant's enrollment and participation in the trial<br><br>          -  Hemoglobin <13 grams/deciliter (g/dl) in females and <14 g/dl in males in screening<br>             phase<br><br>          -  Patients with an increased anemia risk (e.g. thalassemia, spherocytosis, etc.) or<br>             patients which would be at a particular medical risk in case of an anemia<br><br>          -  Diagnosed neutropenia <1.500/microliter (mcl) or thrombocytopenia <90.000/mcl in<br>             screening phase<br>      ;<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Caucasians, male or female aged between 18 and 70 years<br><br>          -  Indication: serological proof of a chronic hepatitis C infection with positive result<br>             of anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) test and detectable HCV- Ribo Nucleic Acid (RNA) in<br>             serum<br><br>          -  Proven HCV genotype 1 by means of the reverse hybridization assays<br><br>          -  Proven histological infection activity within the liver with or without proven<br>             compensated cirrhosis within the last 24 months prior to start of the study<br>             (Child-Pugh degree A)<br><br>          -  Participants without previous anti-HCV therapy<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Known hypersensitivity to interferon or ribavirin or any of the other component parts<br><br>          -  Pregnant or nursing women, women with child bearing potential and without using a high<br>             effective method of contraception. The urine and serum pregnancy test at visit 0 in<br>             fertile participants or cohabitants of participants must show a negative result<br><br>          -  Male partners of pregnant women<br><br>          -  Infection with HCV genotype 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6<br><br>          -  Pretreatment with interferon and/or ribavirin<br><br>          -  Immunocompromised participants<br><br>          -  Treatment of systemic anti-neoplastic or immunomodulatoric medication (including<br>             supraphysiological doses of steroids or radiation therapy) within the last 6 months<br>             prior to the start of treatment and during the complete time interval of study<br>             treatment<br><br>          -  Chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis C virus (e.g. haemochromatosis,<br>             autoimmunohepatitis, metabolic or alcohol-related liver disease)<br><br>          -  Decompensated liver cirrhosis or liver disease Child-Pugh degree B or C or condition<br>             after decompensation<br><br>          -  Signs of a hepatocellular carcinoma within 2 months prior to randomization in case of<br>             a cirrhosis or a transition to cirrhosis<br><br>          -  Ascites or esophagus varices with bleedings as documented in anamnesis<br><br>          -  Any medical condition that questions in the opinion of the investigator the<br>             participant's enrollment and participation in the trial<br><br>          -  Hemoglobin <13 grams/deciliter (g/dl) in females and <14 g/dl in males in screening<br>             phase<br><br>          -  Patients with an increased anemia risk (e.g. thalassemia, spherocytosis, etc.) or<br>             patients which would be at a particular medical risk in case of an anemia<br><br>          -  Diagnosed neutropenia <1.500/microliter (mcl) or thrombocytopenia <90.000/mcl in<br>             screening phase<br>      ;<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Caucasians, male or female aged between 18 and 70 years<br><br>          -  Indication: serological proof of a chronic hepatitis C infection with positive result<br>             of anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) test and detectable HCV- Ribo Nucleic Acid (RNA) in<br>             serum<br><br>          -  Proven HCV genotype 1 by means of the reverse hybridization assays<br><br>          -  Proven histological infection activity within the liver with or without proven<br>             compensated cirrhosis within the last 24 months prior to start of the study<br>             (Child-Pugh degree A)<br><br>          -  Participants without previous anti-HCV therapy<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Known hypersensitivity to interferon or ribavirin or any of the other component parts<br><br>          -  Pregnant or nursing women, women with child bearing potential and without using a high<br>             effective method of contraception. The urine and serum pregnancy test at visit 0 in<br>             fertile participants or cohabitants of participants must show a negative result<br><br>          -  Male partners of pregnant women<br><br>          -  Infection with HCV genotype 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6<br><br>          -  Pretreatment with interferon and/or ribavirin<br><br>          -  Immunocompromised participants<br><br>          -  Treatment of systemic anti-neoplastic or immunomodulatoric medication (including<br>             supraphysiological doses of steroids or radiation therapy) within the last 6 months<br>             prior to the start of treatment and during the complete time interval of study<br>             treatment<br><br>          -  Chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis C virus (e.g. haemochromatosis,<br>             autoimmunohepatitis, metabolic or alcohol-related liver disease)<br><br>          -  Decompensated liver cirrhosis or liver disease Child-Pugh degree B or C or condition<br>             after decompensation<br><br>          -  Signs of a hepatocellular carcinoma within 2 months prior to randomization in case of<br>             a cirrhosis or a transition to cirrhosis<br><br>          -  Ascites or esophagus varices with bleedings as documented in anamnesis<br><br>          -  Any medical condition that questions in the opinion of the investigator the<br>             participant's enrollment and participation in the trial<br><br>          -  Hemoglobin <13 grams/deciliter (g/dl) in females and <14 g/dl in males in screening<br>             phase<br><br>          -  Patients with an increased anemia risk (e.g. thalassemia, spherocytosis, etc.) or<br>             patients which would be at a particular medical risk in case of an anemia<br><br>          -  Diagnosed neutropenia <1.500/microliter (mcl) or thrombocytopenia <90.000/mcl in<br>             screening phase<br>      ;<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Caucasians, male or female aged between 18 and 70 years<br><br>          -  Indication: serological proof of a chronic hepatitis C infection with positive result<br>             of anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) test and detectable HCV- Ribo Nucleic Acid (RNA) in<br>             serum<br><br>          -  Proven HCV genotype 1 by means of the reverse hybridization assays<br><br>          -  Proven histological infection activity within the liver with or without proven<br>             compensated cirrhosis within the last 24 months prior to start of the study<br>             (Child-Pugh degree A)<br><br>          -  Participants without previous anti-HCV therapy<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Known hypersensitivity to interferon or ribavirin or any of the other component parts<br><br>          -  Pregnant or nursing women, women with child bearing potential and without using a high<br>             effective method of contraception. The urine and serum pregnancy test at visit 0 in<br>             fertile participants or cohabitants of participants must show a negative result<br><br>          -  Male partners of pregnant women<br><br>          -  Infection with HCV genotype 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6<br><br>          -  Pretreatment with interferon and/or ribavirin<br><br>          -  Immunocompromised participants<br><br>          -  Treatment of systemic anti-neoplastic or immunomodulatoric medication (including<br>             supraphysiological doses of steroids or radiation therapy) within the last 6 months<br>             prior to the start of treatment and during the complete time interval of study<br>             treatment<br><br>          -  Chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis C virus (e.g. haemochromatosis,<br>             autoimmunohepatitis, metabolic or alcohol-related liver disease)<br><br>          -  Decompensated liver cirrhosis or liver disease Child-Pugh degree B or C or condition<br>             after decompensation<br><br>          -  Signs of a hepatocellular carcinoma within 2 months prior to randomization in case of<br>             a cirrhosis or a transition to cirrhosis<br><br>          -  Ascites or esophagus varices with bleedings as documented in anamnesis<br><br>          -  Any medical condition that questions in the opinion of the investigator the<br>             participant's enrollment and participation in the trial<br><br>          -  Hemoglobin <13 grams/deciliter (g/dl) in females and <14 g/dl in males in screening<br>             phase<br><br>          -  Patients with an increased anemia risk (e.g. thalassemia, spherocytosis, etc.) or<br>             patients which would be at a particular medical risk in case of an anemia<br><br>          -  Diagnosed neutropenia <1.500/microliter (mcl) or thrombocytopenia <90.000/mcl in<br>             screening phase<br>