New England Compounding Center, the pharmacy accused of distributing tainted steroids that have killed 39 ­people and afflicted hundreds more nation­wide with meningitis, filed for bankruptcy on Friday.

The filing was expected, because the Framingham-based compounding pharmacy faces heavy litigation costs in personal injury lawsuits from around the country. Compounding Center officials hope to set up a fund in the bankruptcy process to pay victims with claims against the pharmacy, the company said Friday.