Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. President Natsuki Hayama signed an agreement Sept. 28 ending a court battle with people who developed hepatitis C through tainted blood products sold by one of the firm's predecessors.

In the agreement, Mitsubishi Tanabe, the successor of the now-defunct Green Cross Corp., and its subsidiary Benesis Corp. admitted its responsibility for the outbreak of hepatitis C, and offered an apology.

The defendants also promised to make every effort to prevent a recurrence of medicine-induced health calamities, to continue talks with the plaintiffs and their lawyers, and to take such measures as developing a new hepatitis C drug.