-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UxwlqDoZgfHjLNSWew/xE+/TP8sXBEHxGXnCNTQINd2LP2yohJRRXNU6+oPybVV+
 LMGtmqDp1pPCl/nUGJan+g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-08-002259.txt : 20080317
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-08-002259.hdr.sgml : 20080317
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080317193036
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-08-002259
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080307
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080317
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080317

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAREKH RAJESH R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001429930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15006
		FILM NUMBER:		08694574

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(781) 433-0771

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ALCHESTER HOUSE, LANGFORD LANE
		STREET 2:		NORTH WENDLEBURY
		CITY:			BICHESTER
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			OX6 ONS

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000744218
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835]
		IRS NUMBER:				133191702
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		119 FOURTH AVE
		CITY:			NEEDHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02494
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7814330771

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		119 FOURTH AVE
		CITY:			NEEDHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			021942725

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	T CELL SCIENCES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000744218</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVAN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001429930</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAREKH RAJESH R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>119 FOURTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEEDHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02494</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>56223</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.16</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-09-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-03-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>17879</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">An entity owned in part by Dr. Rajesh B. Parekh and his spouse is entitled to receive 56,223 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the &quot;Shares&quot;) of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc upon the planned liquidation of Lorantis Holdings Limited during 2008. Mr. Parekh disclaims beneficial ownership of these Shares and is not involved in any decision making with respect to the disposition of these Shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As of March 7, 2008 (the &quot;Effective Date&quot;), Dr. Rajesh B. Parekh beneficially owns options to purchase 17,879 Shares.  Options to purchase 11,368 Shares are exercisable as of the Effective Date.  Options to purchase 6,511 Shares will be exercisable on the six-month anniversary of the Effective Date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rajesh B. Parekh</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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