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  <p align="center" style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  </div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED
  STATES</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON,
  D.C. 20549</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT
  REPORT</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">PURSUANT
  TO SECTION&nbsp;13 OR 15(d)&nbsp;OF</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">THE
  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of Report
  (Date of earliest event reported): <b>May&nbsp;27, 2008</b></font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">AVANT
  IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact name of
  registrant as specified in its charter)</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center">
  
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    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Delaware</font></b></strong></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></strong></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">0-15006</font></b></strong></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></strong></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">13-3191702</font></b></strong></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or other
    jurisdiction<br>
    of incorporation)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Commission File
    Number)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(IRS Employer</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"><br>
    </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Identification No.)</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  </div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">119 Fourth Avenue</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Needham,
  Massachusetts 02494-2725</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of
  principal executive offices) (Zip Code)</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(781) 433-0771</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Registrant&#146;s
  telephone number, including area code)</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K
  filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the
  registrant under any of the following provisions:</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o
  &#160;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under
  the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o
  &#160;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o
  &#160;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o &#160;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant
  to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  
  <p align="left" style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  </div>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\rmoralec\08-15545-1\task2965728\15545-1-ba.htm',USER='rmoralec',CD='May 29 15:35 2008' -->
  
  
  <br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
  
  
  <div>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 1.01.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Entry into a Material Definitive
  Agreement</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On
  May&nbsp;27, 2008, in conjunction with the closing of the transactions
  contemplated by the License and Development Agreement dated April&nbsp;16, 2008
  (&#147;License and Development Agreement&#148;) between Celldex Therapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.
  (&#147;Celldex&#148;), a wholly-owned subsidiary of AVANT Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.
  (the &#147;Registrant&#148;) and Pfizer Vaccines, LLC (&#147;Pfizer Vaccines&#148;), the Registrant
  entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement with Pfizer Vaccines (the
  &#147;Common Stock Purchase Agreement&#148;), whereby the Registrant sold 781,250 shares
  of the Registrant&#146;s common stock, at a price per share of $12.80, to Pfizer
  Vaccines, LLC (&#147;Pfizer Vaccines&#148;), for aggregate cash consideration to the
  Registrant of $10,000,000.&#160; The sale of
  the shares of common stock will not be registered under the Securities Act of
  1933.&#160; Rather, the offer of such shares
  was, and sale of such shares will be, made in reliance on the exemption from
  registration requirements provided by Section&nbsp;4(2)&nbsp;of the Securities
  Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.&#160;
  Pfizer Vaccines is &#147;accredited&#148; (as defined under Regulation D) and no
  general solicitation was or is being used in connection with the offer and sale
  of such securities.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Under
  the terms of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the Registrant will grant to
  Pfizer Vaccines piggyback registration rights, and demand registration rights
  on Form&nbsp;S-3 (no more than twice during any twelve-month period in the case
  of demand registration on Form&nbsp;S-3).&#160;
  These registration rights would expire upon the earlier of the sale of
  all of the common stock subject to those rights, or the fifth anniversary of
  the date of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, and are not assignable by
  Pfizer Vaccines except to an affiliate of Pfizer Vaccines.&#160; Pfizer Vaccines has agreed to refrain from
  selling the shares of common stock purchased under the Common Stock Purchase
  Agreement for one year after signing the Common Stock Purchase Agreement,
  provided that it can sell up to 10% of such shares of common stock during any
  rolling 90-day period from and after the six-month anniversary of the signing of
  that agreement.&#160; Pfizer Vaccines will
  also be subject to a limited standstill agreement with the Registrant.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item
  3.02.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Unregistered Sales of
  Equity Securities</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
  information in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K regarding the
  sale of common stock to Pfizer Vaccines is incorporated by reference in its
  entirety herein.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='2',FILE='C:\JMS\rmoralec\08-15545-1\task2965728\15545-1-ba.htm',USER='rmoralec',CD='May 29 15:35 2008' -->
  
  
  <br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
  
  
  <div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">SIGNATURE</font></b></strong></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant
  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has
  duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
  duly authorized.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="52%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:52.22%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="52%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:52.22%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">AVANT
    IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.</font></b></strong></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="48%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.9%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="48%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.9%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date:
    May&nbsp;30, 2008</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="48%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.9%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/
    Avery W. Catlin</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="48%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.9%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Avery
    W. Catlin</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="48%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.9%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:
    Senior Vice President and</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
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    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief
    Financial Officer</font></p>
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS INC", "cik": "0000744218", "assigned-sic": "2835", "irs-number": "133191702", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-15006", "film-number": "08869790"}, "business-address": {"street1": "119 FOURTH AVE", "city": "NEEDHAM", "state": "MA", "zip": "02494", "phone": "7814330771"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "119 FOURTH AVE", "city": "NEEDHAM", "state": "MA", "zip": "021942725"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "T CELL SCIENCES INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
text: UNITED
  STATES
  SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON,
  D.C. 20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT
  REPORT
  PURSUANT
  TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
  THE
  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  Date of Report
  (Date of earliest event reported):
  May 27, 2008
  AVANT
  IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
  (Exact name of
  registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  0-15006
  13-3191702
  (State or other
    jurisdiction
  of incorporation)
  (Commission File
    Number)
  (IRS Employer
  Identification No.)
  119 Fourth Avenue
  Needham,
  Massachusetts 02494-2725
  (Address of
  principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
  (781) 433-0771
  (Registrant's
  telephone number, including area code)
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K
  filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the
  registrant under any of the following provisions:
  o
  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under
  the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  o
  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant
  to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Item 1.01.              Entry into a Material Definitive
  Agreement
  On
  May 27, 2008, in conjunction with the closing of the transactions
  contemplated by the License and Development Agreement dated April 16, 2008
  ("License and Development Agreement") between Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.
  ("Celldex"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
  (the "Registrant") and Pfizer Vaccines, LLC ("Pfizer Vaccines"), the Registrant
  entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement with Pfizer Vaccines (the
  "Common Stock Purchase Agreement"), whereby the Registrant sold 781,250 shares
  of the Registrant's common stock, at a price per share of $12.80, to Pfizer
  Vaccines, LLC ("Pfizer Vaccines"), for aggregate cash consideration to the
  Registrant of $10,000,000.  The sale of
  the shares of common stock will not be registered under the Securities Act of
  1933.  Rather, the offer of such shares
  was, and sale of such shares will be, made in reliance on the exemption from
  registration requirements provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities
  Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder. 
  Pfizer Vaccines is "accredited" (as defined under Regulation D) and no
  general solicitation was or is being used in connection with the offer and sale
  of such securities.
  Under
  the terms of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the Registrant will grant to
  Pfizer Vaccines piggyback registration rights, and demand registration rights
  on Form S-3 (no more than twice during any twelve-month period in the case
  of demand registration on Form S-3). 
  These registration rights would expire upon the earlier of the sale of
  all of the common stock subject to those rights, or the fifth anniversary of
  the date of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, and are not assignable by
  Pfizer Vaccines except to an affiliate of Pfizer Vaccines.  Pfizer Vaccines has agreed to refrain from
  selling the shares of common stock purchased under the Common Stock Purchase
  Agreement for one year after signing the Common Stock Purchase Agreement,
  provided that it can sell up to 10% of such shares of common stock during any
  rolling 90-day period from and after the six-month anniversary of the signing of
  that agreement.  Pfizer Vaccines will
  also be subject to a limited standstill agreement with the Registrant.
  Item
  3.02.              Unregistered Sales of
  Equity Securities
  The
  information in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K regarding the
  sale of common stock to Pfizer Vaccines is incorporated by reference in its
  entirety herein.
  2
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant
  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has
  duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
  duly authorized.
  AVANT
    IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
  Date:
    May 30, 2008
  By:
  /s/
    Avery W. Catlin
  Avery
    W. Catlin
  Title:
    Senior Vice President and
  Chief
    Financial Officer
  3