Inclusion Criteria:

   - Diagnosis of locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic cutaneous or melanoma of
   unknown primary AJCC Stage IIIC or IV (uveal and mucosal melanoma are excluded)

   - Presence of NRAS Q61 mutation in tumor tissue prior to randomization as determined by
   a Novartis designated central laboratory

   - Naïve untreated patients or patients who have progressed on or after any number of
   prior lines of immunotherapy for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic melanoma

   - Evidence of at least one measurable lesion as detected by radiological or photographic
   methods

   - Adequate bone marrow, organ function, cardiac and laboratory parameters

   - Normal functioning of daily living activities

Exclusion Criteria:

   - Any untreated CNS metastases

   - Uveal or mucosal melanoma

   - History of or current evidence of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) or risk factors of RVO

   - Patients with washout period < 6 weeks from the last dose of ipilimumab or other
   immunotherapy.

   - Previous systemic chemotherapy for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic
   melanoma.

   - History of Gilbert's syndrome

   - Prior therapy with a MEK- inhibitor

   - Impaired cardiovascular function or clinically significant cardiovascular diseases

   - Uncontrolled arterial hypertension despite medical treatment

   - HIV positive or active Hepatitis A or B

   - Impairment of gastrointestinal function

   - Patients who have undergone major surgery or radiotherapy ≤ 3 weeks prior to starting
   study drug or who have not recovered from side effects of such procedure;

   - Patients with neuromuscular disorders that are associated with elevated CK.

   - Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women

   - Medical, psychiatric, cognitive or other conditions that may compromise the patient's
   ability to understand the patient information, give informed consent, comply with the
   study protocol or complete the study

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply