Purpose / DescriptionThis open-label trial randomized 412 HIV-HCV coinfected patients to either 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa-2b plus 800 mg ribavirin daily versus 48 weeks of standard interferon alfa-2b plus 800 mg RBV. The pegIFN-2b group had a higher rate of sustained virologic response compared with the control arm (27% versus 20%, p=0.047) with most of the benefit seen in patients with genotype 1 or 4. The absolute difference however was smaller than that noted in the peginterferon alfa-2a trials of coinfected patients. Tolerability of these regimens were comparable however the pegIFN-2b arm experienced more dose reductions due to clinical adverse events (16% versus 7%, p=0.004).