The NEMO Trial (NRAS Melanoma and MEK Inhibitor):A Randomized Phase III, Open Label, Multicenter, Two-arm Study Comparing the Efficacy of MEK162 Versus Dacarbazine in Patients With Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic NRAS Mutation-positive Melanoma

Two-arm, randomized, prospective, open-label, multi-center, phase III study to compare the efficacy and safety of MEK162 (45 mg BID) versus dacarbazine (1000 mg/m2 IV every 3 weeks) in patients with advanced (Stage IIIC) unresectable or metastatic (Stage IV) NRAS Q61 mutation-positive cutaneous or unknown primary melanoma. The mutation analysis will be performed at a central laboratory. Only those patients with Q61 mutation per central laboratory and meet all eligibility criteria will be randomized. A total of 393 patients will be randomized 2:1 to receive either MEK162 or dacarbazine. Patients will be stratified according to AJCC stage (IIIC, IVM1a, and IVM1b versus IVM1c), ECOG Performance status (0 versus 1) and any prior number of lines of immunotherapy (immunotherapies versus none). This study will use an Interactive Response Technology (IRT). The primary end point of the study is progression-free survival. Key secondary end point is overall survival