November, 1989: The first RCTs Davis, et al., N Engl J Med; 321: 1501-6.
- A six-month course of IFN alfa at 3 MU TIW was well tolerated and induced significant biochemical and histological improvement in about half of patients treated.
- Almost half of the responders relapsed rapidly after treatment was stopped.
- “…the effects of interferon therapy on viral replication, infectivity, and the long-term natural history of chronic hepatitis C remain to be defined.”