TOKYO, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The Japanese government plans to reject a court settlement for patients who suffered side effects from a cancer drug, sources in Tokyo say.

On Jan. 7, the Tokyo and Osaka district courts called for the government and AstraZeneca to compensate five patients who developed interstitial pneumonia after taking the lung cancer drug Iressa before Oct. 15, 2002, when an emergency alert on side effects was issued, The Yomiuri Shimbun reports.

The judges said the parties failed to give adequate warning, but the government will say the drug was approved properly, sources told the newspaper. The response is expected Thursday, one day before the courts' deadline.

The Japanese branch of AstraZeneca, which imported Iressa, already has informed the courts of its rejection of the settlement.

Three Cabinet ministers reviewing the case have decided enough information on the side effects was given and that if the government accepted the proposal, it would undermine efforts to speed up drug approvals, a Health Ministry official said.