-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NHuGMDkMxYxHseJlSmelpIR4DwxAFpLdBDbY6tClacGweF1pIRtsXRh7nWKAJH0L
 L6fGvzBgcdhEFXZGR8Y2fQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-000265.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-000265.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105180617
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-000265
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARSH HENRY C JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001258764

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15006
		FILM NUMBER:		04506768

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		297 SUMMER AVENUE
		CITY:			READING
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01867

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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000744218</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVAN</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258764</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARSH HENRY C JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>297 SUMMER AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>READING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01867</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>V.P. Research</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Derivative Security</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.77</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>2.77</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2008-01-02</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2014-01-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>12000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>160154</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Henry Marsh</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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