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):
                                  July 23, 2003


                         AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


        Delaware                       0-15006                   13-3191702
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission file number)       (IRS employer
    of incorporation)                                        identification no.)


                                119 Fourth Avenue
                          Needham, Massachusetts 02494
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (781) 433-0771









ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

         (c) Exhibits.
             ---------

              99.1   The Company's Press Release dated July 23, 2003.

ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE..

                           The following information is furnished under Item 12
                           of Form 8-K "Results of Operations and Financial
                           Condition". This information is being furnished and
                           shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of
                           Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or
                           otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section.
                           The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K
                           shall not be incorporated by reference into any
                           registration statement or other document pursuant to
                           the Securities Act of 1933 as amended.

                           On July 23, 2003, the Company issued a press release
                           which is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1
                           and incorporated herein by reference.










                                   SIGNATURES

     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:  July 23, 2003                    By:   /s/ Avery W. Catlin
                                           ------------------------------------
                                             Avery W. Catlin
                                             Senior Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer








                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------

Exhibit
Number                Description
-------               -----------
99.1                  The Company's Press Release dated July 23, 2003