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  <p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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  <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;">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;7, 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>
  
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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></p>
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" 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</font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#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="Times New Roman" style="display:none;font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#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="Times New Roman" style="display:none;font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#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="Times New Roman" style="display:none;font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#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>
  
  <div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  
  <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="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
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  <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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item
  5.02.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Departure of Directors
  or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers;
  Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers</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-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Una
  S. Ryan, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of AVANT
  Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) has informed the Company&#146;s Board
  of Directors of her intention to depart from the Company.&#160; The Company and Dr.&nbsp;Ryan are currently
  in discussions concerning the terms of her separation.&#160; Following Dr.&nbsp;Ryan&#146;s departure, Anthony
  S. Marucci, currently the Executive Vice President of the Company, will serve
  as Chief Executive Officer and principal executive officer on an interim
  basis.&#160; The Nominating and Corporate
  Governance Committee of the Board will commence a search process which will
  include a review of internal and external candidates.&#160; The Company will issue the press release
  attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 with respect to Dr.&nbsp;Ryan&#146;s departure.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item
  9.01.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Financial Statements
  and Exhibits</font></b></strong></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="8%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:8.44%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><strong><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">Exhibit</font></b></strong></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.98%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></strong></p>
    </td>
    <td width="86%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:86.58%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><strong><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;">Description</font></b></strong></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:8.44%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.98%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="86%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:86.58%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press
    Release issued May&nbsp;14, 2008.</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><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;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><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="48%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="51%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:51.66%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="48%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="51%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:51.66%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="48%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.16%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.5%;">
    <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="48%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date: May&nbsp;13, 2008</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.16%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.5%;">
    <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="48%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.16%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.5%;">
    <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="48%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.34%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.16%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.5%;">
    <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>
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief Financial Officer</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <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;">3</font></p>
  
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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 7, 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
  5.02.              Departure of Directors
  or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers;
  Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
  Una
  S. Ryan, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of AVANT
  Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (the "Company") has informed the Company's Board
  of Directors of her intention to depart from the Company.  The Company and Dr. Ryan are currently
  in discussions concerning the terms of her separation.  Following Dr. Ryan's departure, Anthony
  S. Marucci, currently the Executive Vice President of the Company, will serve
  as Chief Executive Officer and principal executive officer on an interim
  basis.  The Nominating and Corporate
  Governance Committee of the Board will commence a search process which will
  include a review of internal and external candidates.  The Company will issue the press release
  attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 with respect to Dr. Ryan's departure.
  Item
  9.01.              Financial Statements
  and Exhibits
  Exhibit
  Description
  99.1
  Press
    Release issued May 14, 2008.
  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 13, 2008
  By:
  /s/ Avery W. Catlin
  Avery W. Catlin
  Title: Senior Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer
  3