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Data from Phase 2 PILOT Study of Bristol Myers Squibb’s CAR T cell therapy Breyanzi show substantial durable responses in patients with refractory or relapsed large B-cell lymphoma after first-line therapy

First disclosure of results from primary analysis of Phase 2 PILOT study shows Breyanzi delivered complete responses in more than half of patients with refractory or relapsed large B-cell lymphoma after first-line therapy who were not deemed candidates for stem cell transplant

 

PILOT patient-reported outcomes analysis showed treatment with Breyanzi improved health-related quality of life measures for patients

 

Breyanzi is the only CAR T cell therapy that has been evaluated in two distinct trials in the second-line setting for large B-cell lymphoma, underscoring its value, if approved, as an important treatment option after failure of first-line therapy

 

PRINCETON, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $bmy #ASCO—Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced results from the primary analysis of PILOT, a multicenter, Phase 2 study evaluating Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel) in adults with refractory or relapsed large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) after first-line therapy who were not deemed candidates for high-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The PILOT study is the only company-sponsored trial to evaluate a CAR T cell therapy as a second-line treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL who are not considered candidates for stem cell transplant. The data will be presented in a poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 4 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT (ABSTRACT 7062).

The PILOT study enrolled a broad patient population of adults with refractory or relapsed LBCL after first-line treatment who were not considered candidates for transplant based on age, performance status and/or organ function and comorbidities, and regardless of time to relapse following first-line treatment. With a median follow-up of 12.3 months, the majority of patients treated with Breyanzi (n=61) saw a reduction in disease, with 80% of patients responding to treatment (overall response rate; 95% CI: 68.2 – 89.4) and 54% of patients achieving a complete response (CR; 95% CI:40.8-66.9). Responses with Breyanzi were durable, with a median duration of response of 12.1 months (95% CI: 6.2-NR) at 15.5 months median follow-up. In patients who achieved a CR, median duration of response was 21.7 months (95% CI: 12.7-NR). Median progression-free survival with Breyanzi was 9.0 months (95% CI: 4.2-NR), and median overall survival has not been reached (95% CI: 17.3-NR). In the PILOT study, patients were treated with Breyanzi and monitored in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.

 

“For patients with large B-cell lymphoma that is refractory to or relapses after first-line therapy, stem cell transplant has been the only potentially curative treatment option, but the reality is many patients are not candidates for stem cell transplant, leaving limited treatment options,” said Leo I. Gordon, M.D., study investigator, Professor in Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois. “The results from the PILOT study, including the patient-reported outcomes, show that treatment with liso-cel as a second-line therapy offers durable responses with improved quality of life for patients who historically have had poor prognosis.”

 

LBCL, the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is an aggressive blood cancer and approximately 40% of patients will have disease that is refractory to or relapses after first-line treatment. High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant has been the mainstay of care in the second-line setting; however, less than half of patients with primary refractory or relapsed disease are considered candidates for a stem cell transplant. For these patients, there are limited treatments that provide long-term disease control and palliative care is often the only option. If left untreated, patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL have a life expectancy of just three to four months.

 

“At Bristol Myers Squibb, we strive for cure by advancing innovative therapies that may provide long-term clinical benefit for some of the most challenging cancers with the hope of creating new standards of care that not only improve outcomes but also the patient experience,” said Anne Kerber, senior vice president, Cell Therapy Development, Bristol Myers Squibb. “With Breyanzi, we have boldly designed a broad clinical trial program in relapsed or refractory LBCL, including patients who are not intended for stem cell transplant after failure of first-line therapy. These results from the PILOT study continue to demonstrate the practice-changing potential of Breyanzi in this setting, delivering on the promise of CAR T cell therapy for more patients.”

 

In the PILOT study, Breyanzi showed a manageable safety profile with no new safety signals and low rates of severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or neurologic events, and no Grade 4/5 CRS or neurologic events reported. Any grade CRS occurred in 38% of patients, with Grade 3 CRS reported in one patient (2%). Any grade neurologic events were seen in 31% of patients with Grade 3 neurologic events reported in three patients (5%).

 

In a separate analysis of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) from the PILOT study, patients who received Breyanzi and were evaluable for the PRO analysis (n=56) showed significant improvements in fatigue and pain. Improvements in overall lymphoma symptoms were clinically meaningful following treatment with Breyanzi, and in an individual patient-level analysis, 70% of patients reported meaningful improvements in quality of life based on FACT-LymS scores at month 6. Results from the analysis will be presented in a poster presentation on Monday, June 6 from 2:15 PM – 5:15 PM EDT (Abstract 6567).

 

A supplemental Biologics License Application for Breyanzi for the treatment of relapsed or refractory LBCL after failure of first-line therapy is currently under Priority Review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with an assigned Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of June 24, 2022.

 

Breyanzi, a differentiated CD-19 directed CAR T cell therapy, is currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma grade 3B. Breyanzi is not indicated for the treatment of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma.

 

About Breyanzi

Breyanzi is a CD-19 directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, administered as a defined composition to reduce variability of the CD8 and CD4 component dose. Breyanzi has a 4-1BB costimulatory domain which enhances the expansion and persistence of the CAR T cells. Breyanzi was previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma grade 3B. Breyanzi is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the BREYANZI REMS.

 

Breyanzi is also approved in the European Union, Switzerland, Japan and Canada for relapsed and refractory LBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Bristol Myers Squibb’s clinical development program for Breyanzi includes clinical studies in earlier lines of treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL and other types of lymphomas and leukemia. For more information, visit clinicaltrials.gov.

 

Breyanzi is not approved in any region for the second-line treatment of LBCL.

 

About PILOT

PILOT (NCT03483103) is a multicenter Phase 2 trial evaluating Breyanzi as a second-line therapy in adults with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after first-line therapy who are ineligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). All enrolled patients have relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after treatment with a single line of chemoimmunotherapy containing an anthracycline and a CD20-targeted agent and have been deemed non-candidates for high-dose chemotherapy and HSCT. The primary endpoint of the study is overall response rate. Other efficacy endpoints include complete response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, event-free survival and overall survival.

 

Important Safety Information

BOXED WARNING: CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME and NEUROLOGIC TOXICITIES

  • Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred in patients receiving BREYANZI. Do not administer BREYANZI to patients with active infection or inflammatory disorders. Treat severe or life-threatening CRS with tocilizumab with or without corticosteroids.
  • Neurologic toxicities, including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred in patients receiving BREYANZI, including concurrently with CRS, after CRS resolution or in the absence of CRS. Monitor for neurologic events after treatment with BREYANZI. Provide supportive care and/or corticosteroids as needed.
  • BREYANZI is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the BREYANZI REMS.

 

Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)

CRS, including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred following treatment with BREYANZI. CRS occurred in 46% (122/268) of patients receiving BREYANZI, including ≥ Grade 3 (Lee grading system) CRS in 4% (11/268) of patients. One patient had fatal CRS and 2 had ongoing CRS at time of death. The median time to onset was 5 days (range: 1 to 15 days). CRS resolved in 119 of 122 patients (98%) with a median duration of 5 days (range: 1 to 17 days). Median duration of CRS was 5 days (range 1 to 30 days) in all patients, including those who died or had CRS ongoing at time of death.

 

Among patients with CRS, the most common manifestations of CRS include fever (93%), hypotension (49%), tachycardia (39%), chills (28%), and hypoxia (21%). Serious events that may be associated with CRS include cardiac arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia), cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, diffuse alveolar damage, renal insufficiency, capillary leak syndrome, hypotension, hypoxia, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome (HLH/MAS).

 

Ensure that 2 doses of tocilizumab are available prior to infusion of BREYANZI. Sixty-one of 268 (23%) patients received tocilizumab and/or a corticosteroid for CRS after infusion of BREYANZI. Twenty-seven (10%) patients received tocilizumab only, 25 (9%) received tocilizumab and a corticosteroid, and 9 (3%) received corticosteroids only.

 

Neurologic Toxicities

Neurologic toxicities that were fatal or life-threatening, occurred following treatment with BREYANZI. CAR T cell-associated neurologic toxicities occurred in 35% (95/268) of patients receiving BREYANZI, including ≥ Grade 3 in 12% (31/268) of patients. Three patients had fatal neurologic toxicity and 7 had ongoing neurologic toxicity at time of death. The median time to onset of the first event was 8 days (range: 1 to 46 days). The onset of all neurologic events occurred within the first 8 weeks following BREYANZI infusion. Neurologic toxicities resolved in 81 of 95 patients (85%) with a median duration of 12 days (range: 1 to 87 days). Three of four patients with ongoing neurologic toxicity at data cutoff had tremor and one subject had encephalopathy. Median duration of neurologic toxicity was 15 days (range: 1 to 785 days) in all patients, including those with ongoing neurologic events at the time of death or at data cutoff.

 

Seventy-eight (78) of 95 (82%) patients with neurologic toxicity experienced CRS. Neurologic toxicity overlapped with CRS in 57 patients. The onset of neurologic toxicity was after onset of CRS in 30 patients, before CRS onset in 13 patients, same day as CRS onset in 7 patients, and same day as CRS resolution in 7 patients.

 

Neurologic toxicity resolved in three patients before the onset of CRS. Eighteen patients experienced neurologic toxicity after resolution of CRS.

 

The most common neurologic toxicities included encephalopathy (24%), tremor (14%), aphasia (9%), delirium (7%), headache (7%), dizziness (6%), and ataxia (6%). Serious events including cerebral edema and seizures occurred with BREYANZI. Fatal and serious cases of leukoencephalopathy, some attributable to fludarabine, have occurred in patients treated with BREYANZI.

 

CRS and Neurologic Toxicities Monitoring

Monitor patients daily at a certified healthcare facility during the first week following infusion, for signs and symptoms of CRS and neurologic toxicities. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of CRS and neurologic toxicities for at least 4 weeks after infusion; evaluate and treat promptly. Counsel patients to seek immediate medical attention should signs or symptoms of CRS or neurologic toxicity occur at any time. At the first sign of CRS, institute treatment with supportive care, tocilizumab or tocilizumab and corticosteroids as indicated.

 

BREYANZI REMS

Because of the risk of CRS and neurologic toxicities, BREYANZI is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the BREYANZI REMS. The required components of the BREYANZI REMS are:

  • Healthcare facilities that dispense and administer BREYANZI must be enrolled and comply with the REMS requirements.
  • Certified healthcare facilities must have on-site, immediate access to tocilizumab.
  • Ensure that a minimum of 2 doses of tocilizumab are available for each patient for infusion within 2 hours after BREYANZI infusion, if needed for treatment of CRS.
  • Certified healthcare facilities must ensure that healthcare providers who prescribe, dispense, or administer BREYANZI are trained on the management of CRS and neurologic toxicities.

 

Further information is available at www.BreyanziREMS.com, or contact Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-888-423-5436.

 

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Allergic reactions may occur with the infusion of BREYANZI. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, may be due to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).

 

Serious Infections

Severe infections, including life-threatening or fatal infections, have occurred in patients after BREYANZI infusion. Infections (all grades) occurred in 45% (121/268) of patients. Grade 3 or higher infections occurred in 19% of patients. Grade 3 or higher infections with an unspecified pathogen occurred in 16% of patients, bacterial infections occurred in 5%, and viral and fungal infections occurred in 1.5% and 0.4% of patients, respectively. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection before and after BREYANZI administration and treat appropriately. Administer prophylactic antimicrobials according to standard institutional guidelines.

 

Febrile neutropenia has been observed in 9% (24/268) of patients after BREYANZI infusion and may be concurrent with CRS. In the event of febrile neutropenia, evaluate for infection and manage with broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, and other supportive care as medically indicated.

 

Avoid administration of BREYANZI in patients with clinically significant active systemic infections.

 

Viral reactivation: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death, can occur in patients treated with drugs directed against B cells. Ten of the 11 patients in the TRANSCEND study with a prior history of HBV were treated with concurrent antiviral suppressive therapy to prevent HBV reactivation during and after treatment with BREYANZI. Perform screening for HBV, HCV, and HIV in accordance with clinical guidelines before collection of cells for manufacturing.

 

Prolonged Cytopenias

Patients may exhibit cytopenias not resolved for several weeks following lymphodepleting chemotherapy and BREYANZI infusion. Grade 3 or higher cytopenias persisted at Day 29 following BREYANZI infusion in 31% (84/268) of patients, and included thrombocytopenia (26%), neutropenia (14%), and anemia (3%). Monitor complete blood counts prior to and after BREYANZI administration.

 

Hypogammaglobulinemia

B-cell aplasia and hypogammaglobulinemia can occur in patients receiving treatment with BREYANZI. The adverse event of hypogammaglobulinemia was reported as an adverse reaction in 14% (37/268) of patients; laboratory IgG levels fell below 500 mg/dL after infusion in 21% (56/268) of patients. Hypogammaglobulinemia, either as an adverse reaction or laboratory IgG level below 500 mg/dL after infusion, was reported in 32% (85/268) of patients. Monitor immunoglobulin levels after treatment with BREYANZI and manage using infection precautions, antibiotic prophylaxis, and immunoglobulin replacement as clinically indicated.

 

Live vaccines: The safety of immunization with live viral vaccines during or following BREYANZI treatment has not been studied. Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended for at least 6 weeks prior to the start of lymphodepleting chemotherapy, during BREYANZI treatment, and until immune recovery following treatment with BREYANZI.

 

Secondary Malignancies

Patients treated with BREYANZI may develop secondary malignancies. Monitor lifelong for secondary malignancies. In the event that a secondary malignancy occurs, contact Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-888-805-4555 for reporting and to obtain instructions on collection of patient samples for testing.

 

Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

Due to the potential for neurologic events, including altered mental status or seizures, patients receiving BREYANZI are at risk for altered or decreased consciousness or impaired coordination in the 8 weeks following BREYANZI administration. Advise patients to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities, such as operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery, during this initial period.

 

Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 46% of patients. The most common nonlaboratory, serious adverse reactions (> 2%) were CRS, encephalopathy, sepsis, febrile neutropenia, aphasia, pneumonia, fever, hypotension, dizziness, and delirium. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4% of patients.

 

The most common nonlaboratory adverse reactions of any grade (≥ 20%) were fatigue, CRS, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, headache, encephalopathy, infections (pathogen unspecified), decreased appetite, diarrhea, hypotension, tachycardia, dizziness, cough, constipation, abdominal pain, vomiting, and edema.

 

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS and Medication Guide.

 

Bristol Myers Squibb: Creating a Better Future for People with Cancer

Bristol Myers Squibb is inspired by a single vision—transforming patients’ lives through science. The goal of the company’s cancer research is to deliver medicines that offer each patient a better, healthier life and to make cure a possibility. Building on a legacy across a broad range of cancers that have changed survival expectations for many, Bristol Myers Squibb researchers are exploring new frontiers in personalized medicine, and through innovative digital platforms, are turning data into insights that sharpen their focus. Deep scientific expertise, cutting-edge capabilities and discovery platforms enable the company to look at cancer from every angle. Cancer can have a relentless grasp on many parts of a patient’s life, and Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to taking actions to address all aspects of care, from diagnosis to survivorship. Because as a leader in cancer care, Bristol Myers Squibb is working to empower all people with cancer to have a better future.

 

Learn more about the science behind cell therapy and ongoing research at Bristol Myers Squibb here.

 

About Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

 

Celgene and Juno Therapeutics are wholly owned subsidiaries of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. In certain countries outside the U.S., due to local laws, Celgene and Juno Therapeutics are referred to as, Celgene, a Bristol Myers Squibb company and Juno Therapeutics, a Bristol Myers Squibb company.

 

Bristol Myers Squibb Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, that future study results will be consistent with the results to date, that Breyanzi (liso-cel) may not receive regulatory approval for the indication described in this release in the currently anticipated timeline or at all, any marketing approvals, if granted, may have significant limitations on their use, and, if approved, whether such product candidate for such indication described in this release will be commercially successful. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibb’s business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibb’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

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Contacts

Bristol Myers Squibb

Media Inquiries:
media@bms.com

Kimberly Whitefield

kimberly.whitefield@bms.com

Investors:
investor.relations@bms.com

Categories
Culture Lifestyle Local News

Report highlights quality of life in Mercer

TRENTON, N.J. – Many of Mercer County’s attributes were highlighted in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the nation’s Best Places to Live in 2022-2023, which placed the Trenton metro area – consisting of Mercer County — near the top in the “Best Places to Live for Quality of Life” category.

Photo: A concert in Mill Hill Park in Trenton

U.S. News analyzed 150 metro areas in the United States to find the best places to live based on quality of life and the job market in each metro area, as well as the value of living there, and people’s desire to live there. The publication cited the Trenton metro area’s convenient location, diverse economy, educational resources, parks, and variety of entertainment options as some of its most desirable features.

“I have always felt that Mercer County offers benefits unmatched by any other region in the United States,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “Our first-rate educational institutions, employment opportunities, open space and recreational facilities, and cultural and historical offerings are among the things that create the wonderful quality of life that a person can find here.”

 

U.S. News stated that its Quality-of-Life Index “measures how satisfied residents are with their daily lives by metro area, and takes into account factors like crime, quality and availability of health care, quality of education and average commute time.”

 

Photo: The College of New Jersey in Ewing.

 

The Trenton metro area was ranked fifth for quality of life after the Ann Arbor, Mich.; Boulder, Colo.; San Jose, Calif.; and Naples Fla. metro areas.

 

“We couldn’t agree more with this area being one of the best places to live and would go further to say it’s one of the best places to work and play as well,” said Hal English, President/CEO of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber.

 

“With our abundance of parks and recreation, fantastic array of different type restaurants and our entertainment venues such as the Grounds for Sculpture, CURE Arena and the Trenton Thunder – to name a few, we are blessed.”

Categories
Culture Local News News Now!

Mercer County to hold Memorial Day observance

Photo: Veterans’ memorial in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton

 

 

TRENTON, N.J. — Mercer County’s annual Memorial Day observance will take place Sunday, May 29, at 11 a.m. in the Veteran Section at Greenwood Cemetery, 1800 Hamilton Ave., Hamilton.

“I encourage everyone to pause during the holiday weekend to honor the men and women of our armed forces who gave their lives protecting our freedom,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “All are invited to attend the county’s annual remembrance service at Greenwood Cemetery.”

Col. Walter F. Conner, USMC (Ret), will deliver the keynote address at the event, which is organized each year by the Mercer County Division of Veteran Services.

Categories
Culture Local News

Most County government offices to close for Memorial Day

TRENTON, N.J. — Most Mercer County government offices will be closed Monday, May 30, 2022, in observance of Memorial Day.

 

 

All branches of the Mercer County Library System will be closed Saturday, May 28, through Monday, May 30.

 

In addition to being closed on Memorial Day, the County Connection office in Hamilton will be closed Saturday, May 28.

 

The following County offices and facilities will remain open:

·       Trenton-Mercer Airport (except for administrative offices)

·       Correction Center

·       Sheriff’s Office

·       Emergency Services Communication Center.

 

The following Mercer County Park Commission facilities will be open on Memorial Day:

  • Marina at Mercer County Park, noon to 6 p.m.; Tennis Center, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.;
  • all five County golf courses, 6 a.m. (first tee time) to 7:30 p.m.
  • Hopewell Valley Pool will be open Memorial Day weekend (Saturday-Monday), 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and then will be open weekends only through June 19.
  • The Wildlife Center will accept patients by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 28, through Monday, May 30.
  • The outdoor education area will be open free of charge for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Howell Living History Farm, Mercer County Stables, Tulpehaking Nature Center and Park Commission administrative offices will be closed on Memorial Day.

 

For more information on Park Commission facilities, visit www.mercercountyparks.org.

Categories
Business Environment Lifestyle Local News

NJ phases out single-use plastic and paper shopping bags at grocery stores

The “Bag Up NJ” campaign is the New Jersey Clean Communities Council’s new single use plastic and paper bag ban outreach campaign, which has a simple message: Bring your own reusable bag(s) when you shop.

 

 

This campaign educates and reminds consumers about their options for sustainability at the checkout counter. Consumers can bring their own reusable bags when they shop and recycle their plastic bags.

 

On Nov. 4, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature enacted the most progressive bag ban law in the country. The law prevents litter and encourages the use of reusable bags by phasing out single-use plastic and paper bags.

 

The law bans plastic bags, regardless of thickness, at grocery stores and retail outlets, as well as paper bags at grocery stores measuring more than 2,500 square feet. It also bans polystyrene foam food service products; and makes plastic straws at restaurants available only upon request.

While we often hear about the environmental impact of disposable plastic bags, it is important to remember that disposable paper bags have a significant impact on the environment too.

 

Papermaking requires large inputs of water, energy, chemicals, and wood, and produces various wastes and emissions that must be controlled or treated. Additionally, paper bags require 10 times the amounts of trucks to deliver the same quantity of bags, resulting in increased truck traffic and diesel emissions.

 

 

The statewide ban on disposable bags went into effect on May 4, 2022. It will create an effective and uniform sustainable policy for all shoppers and business owners in NJ.

 

Reducing waste and litter statewide is a good thing; “This smart, uniform statewide law preempts all local ordinances.” said New Jersey Food Council CEO Linda Doherty, who is also president of the New Jersey Clean Communities Council.

 

Business Compliance:

For more information about business compliance, please contact Bag Up NJ partner New Jersey Business Action Center.

 

More details of the legislation:

The Bag Ban went into effect on May 4, 2022

  • The bill provides that the Department of State in consultation with the state Department of Environmental Protection will establish a program to assist businesses with compliance. This will include FAQs, outreach and educational programs, public service announcements, and distribution of free reusable carryout bags through a partnership with the Clean Communities Program which is receiving $500,000 per year for the first three years after the effective date of the law.
  • One year after enactment, November 4, 2021, plastic straws can only be provided upon request of a customer. Packages of straws and items like juice boxes may still be sold in stores.
  • The bill states that municipalities and counties cannot adopt any new ordinances governing plastic and paper bags, polystyrene, and straws. Ordinances already in effect will be superseded according to the various products’ phase out schedules.
  • The bill provides for penalties: a warning for a first offense, up to $1,000 for a second offense, and up to $5,000 for a third or subsequent offense. Penalties for violations will be deposited in the Clean Communities Program Fund, except that a municipality may retain 30 percent of any penalty it collects.
  • The bill establishes a Plastics Advisory Council in the state Department of Environmental Protection, whose members will monitor implementation of the law and evaluate its effectiveness. The Council will be comprised of 16 members, including 4 representing stores and food service businesses.
Categories
Business Local News

MSITEK sponsors a Hospice IT and digital project in India as part of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives

PRINCETON, N.J. & BANGALORE, India — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #CSR—MSITEK, a global provider of SAP technology-enabled business solutions, recently collaborated with Ganga Prem Hospice, a Hospice care organization that provides medical, spiritual, and emotional support to terminally ill cancer patients.

MSITEK has taken up this initiative as part of its focus on Corporate Social Responsibility. They are investing in the Hospice’s technology platforms as their digital and technology sponsor and will support core backend operations and overall process improvements of the hospice to improve operational efficiency. They have also built the hospice’s web portal and will continue enhancing it.

 

The website went live this month, with MSITEK’s CEO Ashoo Tuli being invited to be a part of the launch. He had the honor of meeting the founder and spiritual leader Nani Ma as well as Pooja Dogra, COO of Ganga Prem Hospice. He further said, “We are immensely honored to be doing our bit and contributing to the Hospice’s noble cause. We will continue to sponsor and drive many more CSR initiatives, both in near future and long term.” Echoing these sentiments, Sheelam Maurya, Managing Partner at MSITEK who also leads CSR for the organization, said that she believes in the greater good, social accountability, and making a positive impact on society. “We also have a vision of supporting the education and health needs of under-privileged children of the Hospice care patients and working on to drive this initiative in collaboration with Ganga Prem Hospice,” she added.

 

ABOUT MSITEK

MSITEK is a strategic SAP Consulting and Solutions Partner that focuses on designing and implementing innovative solutions for businesses. With headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, USA, it has geographical presence in the United States, Canada, Europe, and India. Its capabilities in SAP cloud solutions and innovative technologies empower customers to transform their businesses into successful enterprises. MSITEK is also a Global SAP Training Partner.

 

ABOUT GANGA PREM HOSPICE

Situated in Rishikesh, India, Ganga Prem Hospice (project of Shradha Cancer Care Trust) a non-profit Hospice that provides professional palliative care, spiritual solace, and emotional understanding to terminally ill cancer patients and their families. The hospice creates a caring and supportive environment in which patients can pass through this phase with minimum distress. In addition, it also sponsors the education of children of needy families at the Hospice care.

Contacts

Sheelam Maurya, Managing Partner

sheelam.maurya@msitekus.com

Categories
Local News Regulations & Security

Mercer County clerk informs public about updated Real ID options

TRENTON, N.J. — Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello would like to inform Mercer residents that starting May 3, 2023, if you plan to use a driver’s license as proof of identity at airport security or to enter certain federal buildings and facilities, it must be the new, more secure Real ID license.

County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello

A standard driver’s license or non-driver identification card can still be used to drive in New Jersey, but it will no longer be considered a valid form of federal identification.

It must be noted, there is no requirement to get a Real ID license. Standard, non-Real ID licenses will still be issued at the DMV. Passport books and passport cards will also remain as valid proof of identification for international travel and are Real ID-compliant for domestic flights. The Mercer County Clerk’s Office offers both at its Trenton location and at the County Connection site in Hamilton.

Real ID complies with federal standards that impose stronger requirements to prove US residency. Real ID is a more secure, federally mandated document that will be accepted at airports as identification and to enter federal buildings. The intent of Real ID is to ultimately reduce identity theft and fraud, and enhance the nation’s security.

“Don’t wait until 2023 to apply for a passport or to obtain a Real ID from the DMV. The time to do this is now to avoid the expected rush and backlog of appointments,” said Clerk Sollami Covello.

For more information about Real ID and the requirements and documents needed to obtain one, you can visit NJ GOV Real ID. To apply for Real ID, appointments can be scheduled online at NJMVC.gov.

The Mercer County Clerk’s Office offers routine passport services, as well as County IDs and Veteran IDs. If you have any questions about the different forms of IDs, please contact the Clerk’s Office at 609-989-6465. For more information regarding passports, please visit the County Clerk’s website at https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-clerk. For the County Clerk’s passport office, please call 609-989-6473. Appointments can also be made at the Mercer County Connection, located at 957 NJ-33, Hamilton, NJ. To schedule an appointment at County Connection, please contact the office at 609-890-9800

Categories
Environment Local News

D&R Greenway Land Trust and NJM Insurance Group team up in celebration of Earth Day, NJM supports Historic Point Breeze Preservation

BORDENTOWN, NJ — Representatives from NJM Insurance Group (NJM) joined D&R Greenway Vice Chair Adrian Huns and D&R Greenway staff to spruce up the gardens at Point Breeze in Bordentown on April 22nd in celebration of Earth Day.  

 

The teams worked collaboratively on a spring cleanup that involved weeding, mulching, and preparing garden beds surrounding the historic Gardener’s House that remains from the Joseph Bonaparte estate, now owned by D&R Greenway Land Trust. The historic site was permanently preserved by D&R Greenway in 2020 in partnership with the City of Bordentown and the NJ Green Acres Program.  The Land Trust owns an acre of ground surrounded by 60 acres that are jointly managed with the State of NJ and the City.

 

PHOTO – (L) Jeff Richardson of NJM Insurance Group and employees present generous support to D&R Greenway Vice Chair Adrian Huns (center) and D&R Greenway Land Trust staff on Earth Day 2022.

 

To support archeological and ecological studies, as well as trail work on the property, NJM is making a $15,000 contribution to D&R Greenway. NJM has been one of D&R Greenway’s Business Partners in Preservation since 2019.

 “This was a great hands-on volunteer experience in celebration of Earth Day,” says Jeff Richardson, NJM’s Community Outreach & Events Coordinator. “Supporting the communities we are privileged to serve is a core value at NJM.  Through our volunteer work and financial commitment, we are pleased to support the environmental stewardship of D&R Greenway at the historic Point Breeze site.”

Among the highlights for volunteers was working with D&R Greenway’s Garden Steward to lay the groundwork for future vegetable gardens.  In keeping with the historic use of the site, the land trust will establish vegetable gardens this year in the location where artichokes, beans, herbs, and other vegetables were grown to feed Bonaparte and his guests who represented scientific, political, and artistic communities of the day.  After staking out new garden plots, NJM volunteers were invited for a special tour of the Gardener’s House renovations that are nearing completion.  The historic house will be transformed into The Point Breeze Discovery Center.   

 

“We have been working throughout the winter to renovate the historic structure, create exhibits and plan the gardens,” says D&R Greenway’s President and CEO Linda Mead.  “It is the generosity of our business partners, supporters, and local residents that enables us the opportunity to tell the many cultural stories that have connected people to the land over eons, here in Bordentown City.”

 

The interactive Discovery Center will feature exhibits that explore the history of the property and the people who cared for it, from the Lenape peoples’ ancestral and continuing connection to the land to Joseph Bonaparte’s lavish estate, from millionaire Harris Hammond to the missionaries of Divine Word, and into perpetuity as a permanently preserved slice of local history.  Exhibits will also highlight the vibrant local ecology of the adjacent Abbott Marshlands and the Delaware River, including artistic renderings of the historical and ecological “jewels of Point Breeze” painted by local plein air artists.  The Center is set to open in 2023.

 

About D&R Greenway Land Trust: D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989. By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The Land Trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for residents of the region—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is centered on connecting land with people from all walks of life. https://www.drgreenway.org; info@drgreenway.org. Follow the organization on Facebook and Instagram.

About NJM Insurance Group: Founded in 1913, NJM is a regional property and casualty insurer with a national reputation for auto claims satisfaction. The Company offers auto, homeowners, renters, condo, and umbrella insurance to individuals in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. NJM Business Insurance is available in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. NJM’s mission is to provide value-based insurance solutions for the benefit of our policyholders while maintaining the highest levels of service, integrity, and financial stewardship. To learn more, visit https://www.njm.com/. Follow the Company onFacebook: @NJMInsurance
Instagram: @njminsurance, Twitter: @NJMIns, LinkedIn: @NJM Insurance Group.

Categories
Culture Local News

Annual Mercer County Bike Drive supports Boys & Girls Clubs Bike Exchange

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Mercer County and the Park Commission recently hosted their second annual Bike Drive for the benefit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County Bike Exchange.

 

Photo: From left, Boys & Girls Clubs volunteers Brad White and Kiyomi Camp, Wanda McNeill from the Mercer County Park Commission and Vanessa DeRosa from the Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction with bicycles that were dropped off at the Hunt House in response to the County’s bike drive.

 

Donors came from all over the County and the surrounding area on April 9 to drop off bikes at the Wildlife Center and the Hunt House in Hopewell Township, Mercer County Park in West Windsor, and the Tulpehaking Nature Center in Hamilton.

 

The Bike Exchange is a volunteer-run organization whose primary objective is to raise funds to support after-school programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County. The Bike Exchange repairs donated bicycles and sells them at modest prices at its Ewing location at Capitol Plaza, raising funds and promoting biking for transportation and pleasure among low- and moderate-income families.

 

“We were pleased to be able to work with the Bike Exchange again this year,” said County Executive Brian M. Hughes.

 

“Our County parks have miles of trails ideal for biking, so we are happy to help in the efforts to get low-cost bikes into the hands of our constituents.”

 

“We have Park Commission facilities throughout the County,” said Executive Director Aaron T. Watson. “So, it was very convenient for donors to drop off their bikes at locations close to their homes.”

 

According to Ira Saltiel, the Bike Exchange’s Volunteer Director, 50 people volunteer for the organization, and 30 help on a regular basis. With average sales of 2,000 bikes per year, the Bike Exchange has sold approximately 24,000 bikes since its inception in 2009, raising $1.4 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs.

 

The Bike Exchange also trains interested Boys & Girls Clubs members in bike repairs. Some of the Boys & Girls Clubs teens who are learning how to rehabilitate bikes volunteered their time at the bike drive by helping donors unload bikes from their vehicles, handing out informational materials, and loading donated bikes onto Bike Exchange trailers at the end of the day.

 

“Ten Bike Exchange volunteers and five interns from the Boys & Girls Club helped with the Mercer County bike drive this year,” said Saltiel, “which resulted in 200 bike donations. We expect more than $15,000 in sales from those bikes!”

 

After two successful bike drives, Mercer County plans to host another drive next year, and continue to make the county among the best places in New Jersey to buy and ride a bike.

 

For information on Mercer County Park Commission parks and trails, click here.

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Categories
Culture Healthcare Local News

Mercer Correction Center reaccredited upon meeting health care standards

Mercer County Correction Center (MCCC) has again earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care by demonstrating compliance with NCCHC’s Standards for Health Services in Jails, announced Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes.

 

 

Accreditation recognizes the Correction Center’s dedication to compliance with the most respected standards in correctional health care. The Correction Center underwent a rigorous on-site survey in October 2021 and received its results April 21, 2022.

 

An experienced physician and other experts in correctional health care surveyed the facility for compliance with standards on continuous quality improvement, safety, infection control, chronic care, personnel and training, medical and mental health care, health records, and legal issues. MCCC was first accredited in 2017 and has maintained its commitment to meeting the requirements described in NCCHC’s standards.

 

Mercer County Correction Center is a county-operated jail with capacity for approximately 900 people. The original facility, built in 1892 as a work camp for incarcerated people, was built up gradually over the century, with the most recent additions taking place in 1995.

 

“Mercer County Correction Center, despite its age, operates at a level that meets the standards of the National Commission, and I thank Warden Charles Ellis, and his supervisors, officers and health care staff for their hard work and knowledge of health care delivery in a secure environment,” Mr. Hughes said.

 

NCCHC has surveyed and accredited jails, prisons and juvenile detention and confinement facilities for 40 years. The NCCHC standards used in accreditation are developed with input from the nation’s experts in correctional health care.

 

“In achieving NCCHC accreditation, Mercer County Correction Center has demonstrated its commitment to meeting constitutional requirements for health care delivery for incarcerated individuals,” said National Commission CEO Deborah Ross, CCHP. “Accreditation is a voluntary process and we commend Mercer for successfully undertaking this challenge to provide quality health care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”