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MB11 versus Opdivo for previously untreated advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma

Randomised, Multicentre, Multinational, Double-Blind Integrated Study to Compare the Pharmacokinetics, Efficacy, Safety, and Immunogenicity of MB11 (Proposed Nivolumab Biosimilar) Versus EU-/US-Opdivo® in Subjects With Previously Untreated Advanced (Unresectable or Metastatic) Melanoma (LEON Study)

PHASE3 · mAbxience Research S.L. · NCT07221734

This trial will test whether MB11, a proposed nivolumab biosimilar, works like EU- or US-sourced Opdivo for adults with untreated advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma.

Quick facts

PhasePHASE3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment632 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsormAbxience Research S.L. (industry)
Drugs / interventionsnivolumab, ipilimumab, immunotherapy, radiation, prednisone
Locations19 sites (Funchal and 18 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07221734 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a randomized, multicenter, double-blind phase 3 comparison of MB11 versus EU- and US-sourced Opdivo examining pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity. Adults with previously untreated unresectable Stage III or Stage IV melanoma who meet entry criteria are randomized to receive MB11 or Opdivo and followed for tumor response, adverse events, and immune responses. Key eligibility includes age ≥18, body weight ≥50 kg, ECOG 0–1, measurable disease by RECIST v1.1, and recent tumor tissue for testing. The integrated design uses standard oncology endpoints and dedicated PK and immunogenicity sampling to support biosimilarity claims.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18 years) with histologically confirmed untreated unresectable Stage III or Stage IV melanoma who weigh ≥50 kg, have ECOG performance status 0–1, measurable disease per RECIST v1.1, and available recent tumor tissue are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients who previously received immune checkpoint therapy (adjuvant or neoadjuvant), those with poor performance status (ECOG ≥2), or without measurable disease are unlikely to meet eligibility or derive benefit from this comparison.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If MB11 is equivalent to Opdivo, it could expand patient access to nivolumab-class treatment by providing a potentially lower-cost alternative with similar effectiveness and safety.

How similar studies have performed: Nivolumab itself is a proven effective treatment in advanced melanoma, and biosimilar comparability trials have successfully produced equivalent agents for other monoclonal antibodies, but MB11 as a nivolumab biosimilar is novel and requires direct comparison to Opdivo.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥18 years at the time of signing the informed consent (or adulthood where the legalage of majority in the country is established \>18 years).
2. Body weight ≥50 kg at baseline.
3. Signed informed consent must be obtained before initiation of any study-specific procedures or treatment.
4. ECOG performance status of 0 or 1.
5. Life expectancy for at least 3 months.
6. Untreated, histologically confirmed advanced unresectable Stage III or Stage IV melanoma, as per AJCC 8th Edition staging system. Prior melanoma systemic therapy for earlier stages is allowed for patients who have been disease-free for at least 1 year after end of therapy, except if therapy included use of prohibited medications. Prior use of immune therapies (adjuvant or neoadjuvant) is not allowed as per Exclusion Criteria #2.
7. At least 1 measurable disease lesion by CT or MRI per RECIST v1.1 criteria.
8. Tumour tissue from an unresectable or metastatic site of disease, collected within 90 days prior to randomisation, must be available and provided for PD-L1 testing. All samples must be classified as PD-L1 positive (≥1% to \<5% or ≥5%). If only the old sample \>90 days is available and there is no possibility of having a new biopsy sample, then the subject will be excluded.
9. In the case of prior palliative radiotherapy (on metastatic lesions), this must have been completed at least 2 weeks prior to the study drug administration. No adjuvant radiation therapies are allowed.
10. Any BRAF mutation status is allowed (BRAF-mutated, BRAF wild-type or non-mutated, or BRAF status unknown).
11. Adequate organ function (bone marrow, hepatic, renal, haematologic, endocrine, and coagulation function) should be demonstrated during the screening period. This is defined as:

    1. Haematologic function: absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5 × 109/L, platelets 9≥100 × 10 /L, and haemoglobin ≥9 g/dL.

       \*\* Subjects should not have received RBC transfusion prior to 14 days beforescreening labs.
    2. Renal function: serum creatinine level ≤1.5 × ULN or calculated CrCl ≥60 mL/min (using the Cockcroft-Gault formula).
    3. Liver function: total bilirubin level ≤1.5 × ULN (except subjects with Gilbert Syndrome, who can have total bilirubin \<3.0 mg/dL), albumin level ≥LLN, AST/ALT ≤2.5 × ULN (≤5 × ULN for subjects with liver metastases).
    4. Endocrine function: TSH within normal limits. If TSH is not within normal limits, the subject may still be eligible if T3 and free T4 are within normal limits.
    5. Coagulation: INR and aPTT ≤1.5 × ULN unless the subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy. Subjects on anticoagulant therapy must be on a stable anticoagulation regimen and have an INR not above the target therapeutic range for the 14 days preceding the start of the study drug.
12. Female subjects of childbearing potential and their partners, as well as male subjects with female partners of childbearing potential and their partners, must agree to adhere to the use of a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for at least 5 months after the last dose of nivolumab. Refer to Appendix 15.1 for contraception guidance.
13. Non-fertile females can be included.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects receiving any prior systemic therapy for advanced, unresectable, or metastatic Stage III or Stage IV melanoma (except for palliative radiotherapy, in accordance with Inclusion Criteria #9).
2. Subjects receiving any prior immunotherapy (regardless of the melanoma stage), such as anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, anti-LAG or anti-CTLA-4 therapy (including ipilimumab or any other antibody or drug that specifically targets costimulation of T-cells or immune checkpoints) and/or BRAF-targeted therapy.
3. Participation in another clinical study or treatment with another investigational agent within 4 weeks or 5 elimination half-lives prior to randomisation (whichever is longer)
4. Brain metastases or leptomeningeal metastases. A negative brain imaging of less than 90 days prior to screening is required.
5. Peritoneal melanomatosis.
6. Ocular melanoma, mucosal melanoma and acral lentiginous melanoma.
7. History of another malignancy or a concurrent malignancy. Exceptions include subjects who have been disease-free for 3 years, or subjects with a history of completely resected non-melanoma skin cancer or successfully treated in situ carcinoma are eligible, for example cervical cancer in situ.
8. Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the last 2 years (ie, with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg, thyroxine, insulin or physiological corticosteroid replacement therapy for pituitary or adrenal insufficiency \[daily prednisone at a dose of ≤10 mg or equivalent\]) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
9. Subjects with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism are excluded but those subjects who are stable on hormone replacement will be allowed.
10. Any diagnosis of immunodeficiency, systemic steroid therapy (replacement therapy outlined in Exclusion Criteria #8, inhaled, intranasal, intraocular, or topical steroids are allowed) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of the study drug.
11. Any major surgery (eg, hip or spine surgery) less than 28 days prior to the first dose of the study drug.
12. Having received a solid organ/tissue allogeneic or haematopoietic transplant.
13. History and/or current interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis (non-infectious) requiring oral or IV steroids or another immunosuppressive drug.
14. Any active or previous infection requiring therapy (oral or systemic) within 30 days prior to the first dose of the study drug.
15. Have received or are about to receive a live virus vaccination within 30 days prior to the first dose of the study drug. Seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines that do not contain live virus are permitted.
16. Known active TB or untreated latent TB.
17. Positive serology for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1/2), hepatitis B (HBsAg positive and/or HBcAb positive, and HBV DNA positive, refer to Section 8.3.2.1) or hepatitis C (HCVAb positive and HCV RNA positive). In addition, subjects with untreated positive serology for Strongyloides spp will be excluded.
18. At the time of signing the informed consent, the subject is a regular user (including "recreational use") of any illicit drug or have a recent history (within the past year) of substance abuse (including alcohol).
19. Be pregnant or lactating or expecting to conceive during the study or up to 5 months after the last dose of the study drug.
20. Immediate family member who is at the research site or sponsoring staff who is directlyninvolved in this study.
21. Inability to comply with protocol procedures and/or any other acute or chronic medical condition that may increase the risk for the subject associated with study participation or study drug administration, that may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the Investigator, would make the subject inappropriate for entry into this study.

Where this trial is running

Funchal and 18 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Advanced Melanoma

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.