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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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 H9w3rOAyCoeBKvdSS9ssyg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-08-002485.txt : 20080325
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-08-002485.hdr.sgml : 20080325
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080325182645
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-08-002485
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080307
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080325
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080325

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Davis Thomas Andrew
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001338185

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15006
		FILM NUMBER:		08710377

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		240 632 5576

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		65 WEST WATKINS MILL ROAD
		CITY:			GAITHERSBURG
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20878

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>0001338185</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Davis Thomas Andrew</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6275 FIRETHORN LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLARKSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21029</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sen. VP &amp; Ch. Medical Officer</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>148825</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. Thomas Davis beneficially owns options to purchase 148,825 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the &quot;Shares&quot;), of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.  Options to purchase 24,761 Shares are exercisable as of the Effective Date.  Options to purchase 24,287 Shares will be exercisable on the first anniversary of the Effective Date.  Of the remainder, options to purchase one twenty-fifth (1/25) of 26,914 Shares and options to purchase one thirty-sixth (1/36) of 72,862 Shares will become exercisable on each subsequent month following the Effective Date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas Davis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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