Description: A newly-developed form of interferon -- the gold standard for treating hepatitis C infection -- may offer hope for the nearly three million U.S. patients suffering from the chronic, potentially liver-destroying disease. Researchers have found that by attaching a specialized molecule to the basic form of interferon, they can create a longer-lasting drug that patients need less of, less often. And peginterferon, as it's called, produces equally good, or even better, results.