-----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,
 OIN6hakYAPSrjmYPm7m5oiIdffHU86Ef5ddwUcuuKmmre+nZOQCwmIUmAwW26pV3
 LXgp2w9sOep3H2IDYAIMaA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-017359.txt : 20080929
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-017359.hdr.sgml : 20080929
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080929114027
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-017359
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080925
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080929
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080929

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15006
		FILM NUMBER:		081092959

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <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>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-09-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents option granted by the Issuer pursuant to its 2008 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Such option vests in four equal quarterly installments beginning 12/25/08.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Dr. Rajesh B. Parekh</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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