EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 14, 2000 relating to the
financial statements which appears in AVANT Immunotherapeutics. Inc.'s Annual
Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent
to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration
Statement.

 /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
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PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
August 4, 2000