The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is more common and more infectious than HIV, infecting an estimated 170 million people worldwide. The virus attacks the liver and has been linked to liver cancer, liver failure, cirrhosis and death. At the 9th International Congress on Infectious Diseases [Buenos Aires, Argentina; April 2000], delegates were updated on the latest research on a promising new pegylated interferon (IFN) for the treatment of HCV infection, PEG-IFN-α-2a ['Pegasys'].