FRANKFURT, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Novartis' CEO

said on Thursday that the delayed launch of blood-cancer drug

pelabresib from the takeover of Morphosys could be achieved in

2027 or later, but any approval would depend on further safety

data.

"It will take us at least until 2027. It might take longer,

depending on the safety topic. And of course there is the

possibility that the safety topic would not allow us to progress

the medicine at all," CEO Vas Narasimhan said in a media call.