TOKYO — The drug Gefitinib, a cancer-fighting drug made by AstraZeneca, has been linked to 39 deaths in Japan and 125 patients, including the 39 who died, have suffered debilitating lung injuries such as interstitial pneumonia, said company spokeswoman Fumiko Muramoto.

“We knew about the possibility of these side effects from our clinical trials,” Muramoto said. “But the number of safety incidents is increasing very rapidly. It’s alarming, and that’s why we’re issuing the warnings.”

Gefitinib was approved in Japan in July for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. At least 10,000 cancer patients have taken the drug since it was cleared for use in July, Muramoto said.

(via The Associated Press)