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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 K1ELdt3YT3EG3fxqI20fGQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-08-002265.txt : 20080317
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-08-002265.hdr.sgml : 20080317
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080317194011
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-08-002265
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:			Newbold Ronald C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001313416

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15006
		FILM NUMBER:		08694594

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		908-387-1673

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SENTIGEN HOLDING CORP.
		STREET 2:		580 MARSHALL ST.
		CITY:			PHILLIPSBURG
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08865

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>0001313416</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Newbold Ronald C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20 HILLCREST ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MARTINSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08836</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior VP, Business Dev.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.16</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-03-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-03-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>107485</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As of March 7, 2008 (the &quot;Effective Date&quot;), Dr. Ronald C. Newbold beneficially owns options to purchase 107,485 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the &quot;Shares&quot;), of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.  Options to purchase 14,210 Shares are exercisable as of the Effective Date.  Options to purchase 19,119 Shares will be exercisable on the first anniversary of the Effective Date.  Of the remainder, options to purchase one twenty-sixth (1/26) of 16,794 Shares and options to purchase one thirty-sixth (1/36) of 57,359 Shares will become exercisable on each subsequent month following the Effective Date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ronald C. Newbold</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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