Patients must show evidence of HBV replication and hepatitis documented by Positive serum HBV-DNA within 3 months prior to entry (HBV-DNA > 2.5 pg/ml) Positive serum HBeAg within 3 months prior to entry. Documented presence of abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) twice within 3 months prior to entry (2 to 10 fold above the upper normal level) Liver biopsy finding shows chronic hepatitis without liver cirrhosis