Exhibit 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Forms S-8, (File Nos. 333-52796, 333-34780, 33-80036, 33-80050 and
333-62017) and the Registration Statements on Forms S-3 (File Nos. 333-64704,
333-43204, 333-52736, 33-64021, 333-08607, 333-56755, 333-64761, 333-89341,
333-109583 and 333-106918), of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (f/k/a TCell
Sciences, Inc.) of our report dated February 18, 2004 relating to the financial
statements of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (f/k/a TCell Sciences, Inc) which
appears in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

Boston, Massachusetts
March 11, 2004