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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-08-001628.txt : 20080109
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-08-001628.hdr.sgml : 20080109
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080109172907
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-08-001628
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080109
ITEM INFORMATION:		Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080109
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080109

FILER:

	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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15006
		FILM NUMBER:		08521479

	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>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a08-1650_18k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>

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<div style="border:none;border-top:double windowtext 6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">

<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;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</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;">CURRENT REPORT</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">&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;">Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d)&nbsp;of the</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;">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):</font></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;">January&nbsp;9, 2008</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;"><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 charter)</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>

<div align="center">

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
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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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</font></b></p>
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">0-15006</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">13-3191702</font></b></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</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>
  </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;">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:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</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;">identification no.)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">119 Fourth Avenue</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;">Needham, Massachusetts&#160;
02494-2725</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;">(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;"><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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">(781) 433-0771</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" 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;letter-spacing:-.1pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.1pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#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="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.1pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; 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="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" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  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="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" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  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;"><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 style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

</div>

<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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<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
3.01-Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule&nbsp;or
Standard; Transfer of Listing.</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;">On January&nbsp;8, 2008 AVANT Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. (&#147;AVANT&#148;)
received a letter from the Staff of the Nasdaq Stock Market (&#147;Nasdaq&#148;)
indicating that the registrant had failed to regain compliance with Nasdaq&#146;s
minimum bid price requirement of $1.00 per share for continued listing of the
registrant&#146;s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market as set forth in
Marketplace rule&nbsp;4310(c)(4)&nbsp;(the &#147;Staff Determination&#148;).&#160; As a result, the registrant&#146;s common stock is
subject to be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market on January&nbsp;17,
2008.&#160; The registrant will request a
hearing before a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel (the &#147;Panel&#148;) to review
the Staff Determination. The hearing process will stay the delisting of the
registrant&#146;s common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market pending the decision
of the Panel.&#160; There can be no assurance
that the Panel will reverse the Staff Determination.</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;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">AVANT
previously announced that it had entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger
(the &#147;Merger Agreement&#148;) with Celldex Therapeutics,&nbsp;Inc., a Delaware
corporation (&#147;Celldex&#148;), and Callisto Merger Corporation, a Delaware
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of AVANT (&#147;Merger Sub&#148;) and that, in
connection with the merger, AVANT will file with the Securities Exchange
Commission (the &#147;SEC&#148;) a combined registration statement and proxy statement on
Form&nbsp;S-4 in which it will propose, among other things, an amendment to its
charter to effect a reverse stock split.&#160;
Historically Panels have generally viewed a near-term reverse stock
split as the only definitive plan acceptable to resolve a bid price deficiency.</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 6.0pt .0001pt 0in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">If the Panel does not reverse the Staff
Determination, the registrant&#146;s common stock shall be delisted from the Nasdaq
Capital Market .&#160; Following such
delisting, AVANT&#146;s common stock could be eligible to trade on the OTC Bulletin
Board or in the &#147;Pink Sheets,&#148; if a market maker made an application to
register in and quote AVANT&#146;s common stock in accordance with SEC Rule&nbsp;15c-11
and such application was cleared.&#160; It is
a condition to the closing of the merger that AVANT is listed on Nasdaq.</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;">AVANT
issued a press release to announce the Staff Determination, a copy of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1.</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;">Information
contained herein, including the Exhibit&nbsp;attached hereto shall not be
deemed &#147;filed&#148; for purposes of Section&nbsp;18 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), or incorporated by reference in any
filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act,
except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.</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;">ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND WHERE TO FIND IT</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">AVANT
intends to file a Proxy Statement/Registration Statement of Form&nbsp;S-4 with
the SEC with respect to the shares of common stock it will issue in the
merger.&#160; Investors and security holders
are advised to read the proxy statement/prospectus (including any amendments or
supplements thereto) regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available
because it contains important information about AVANT, Celldex and the proposed
transaction and other related matters.&#160;
The proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to stockholders of AVANT
seeking their approval of the proposed transaction<b>.&#160; </b>Investors and security holders may
obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto (when they are available) and other documents filed by
AVANT at the Securities and Exchange Commission&#146;s web site at www.sec.gov.&#160; The proxy statement/prospectus and such other
documents may also be obtained for free by directing such request to AVANT
Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. 119 Fourth </font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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>
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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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Avenue,
Needham, Massachusetts 02494, <b>&#160;Attn: </b>Una Ryan/Avery &#147;Chip&#148; Catlin, tel: (781) 433-0771; <b>e-mail: </b>info@avantimmune.com</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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">This
Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K contains &#147;forward-looking&#148; statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements are typically preceded by words such as &#147;believes,&#148; &#147; expects,&#148; &#147;anticipates,&#148;
&#147;intends,&#148; &#147;will,&#148; &#147;may,&#148; &#147;should,&#148; or similar expressions. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may
cause actual future experience and results to differ materially from those
discussed in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that might
cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, costs related to the
merger, failure of Celldex&#146;s stockholders to approve the merger; AVANT&#146;s or
Celldex&#146;s inability to satisfy the conditions of the merger; AVANT&#146;s inability
to maintain its NASDAQ listing; the risk that AVANT&#146;s and Celldex&#146;s businesses
will not be integrated successfully; the combined company&#146;s inability to
further identify, develop and achieve commercial success for new products and
technologies; the possibility of delays in the research and development
necessary to select drug development candidates and delays in clinical trials;
the risk that clinical trials may not result in marketable products; the risk
that the combined company may be unable to successfully secure regulatory
approval of and market its drug candidates; the risks associated with reliance
on outside financing to meet capital requirements; risks associated with
Celldex&#146;s new and uncertain technology; risks of the development of competing
systems; risks related to the combined company&#146;s ability to protect its
proprietary technologies; risks related to patent-infringement claims; risks of
new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the U.S. and
internationally; and other events and factors disclosed previously and from
time to time in AVANT&#146;s filings with the Securities and exchange Commission,
including AVANT&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31,
2006. The Companies do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any
revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.</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="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">This
Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K may be deemed to be solicitation material in
respect of the proposed merger of AVANT&#160;
and Celldex.&#160; In connection with
the proposed merger, AVANT and Celldex intend to file relevant materials with the
SEC, including AVANT&#146;s Proxy Statement/Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-4.
SHAREHOLDERS OF AVANT ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE
SEC, INCLUDING AVANT&#146;S PROXY STATEMENT/REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM&nbsp;S-4,
BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents free of
charge at the SEC&#146;s web site, http://www.sec.gov, and AVANT shareholders will
receive information at an appropriate time on how to obtain transaction-related
documents for free from AVANT. Such documents are not currently available.</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="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
directors and executive officers of AVANT and Celldex&#160; may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies from the holders of AVANT common stock in respect of
the proposed transaction.&#160; Information
about the directors and executive officers of AVANT is set forth in the proxy
statement for AVANT&#146;s most recent 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March&nbsp;16,
2007. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interest of
AVANT and its directors and executive officers, and Celldex and its directors
and executive officers in the proposed transaction by reading the proxy
statement regarding the acquisition when it becomes available.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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;">3</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

</div>
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<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 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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item&nbsp;9.01.&#160;
Financial Statements and Exhibits.</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<i>(d)&nbsp;Exhibits</i></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="9%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:9.96%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.48%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="86%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:86.58%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="9%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:9.96%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit<br>
  Number</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.48%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></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;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description of Exhibit</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="9%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:9.96%;">
  <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="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.48%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&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;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:9.96%;">
  <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="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.48%;">
  <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="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;">AVANT
  Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. Press Release, dated January&nbsp;9, 2008</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;">&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;">4</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 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;">SIGNATURES</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 style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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,
thereunto 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="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:46.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="53%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:53.32%;">
  <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="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:46.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="53%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:53.32%;">
  <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="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:46.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dated:
  January&nbsp;9, 2008</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.42%;">
  <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%" colspan="2" 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="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:46.68%;">
  <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:4.42%;">
  <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%" colspan="2" 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;">Avery
  W. Catlin</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:46.68%;">
  <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:4.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.56%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="43%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:43.34%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Senior
  Vice President and</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">  </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief
  Financial Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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;">5</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

<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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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
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<DESCRIPTION>EX-99.1
<TEXT>

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</head>

<body lang="EN-US">

<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<p align="right" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit&nbsp;99.1</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="color:#000099;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">AVANT APPEALS DELISTING NOTIFICATION FROM
NASDAQ</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="color:#000099;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">NEEDHAM,
MA (January&nbsp;9, 2008):&#160; </font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">AVANT
Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. (Nasdaq: AVAN) announced today that on January&nbsp;8,
2008 it received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock Market indicating that AVANT had
failed to regain compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market&#146;s minimum bid price
requirement of $1.00 per share for continued listing of AVANT&#146;s common stock on
the Nasdaq Capital Market as set forth in Marketplace Rule&nbsp;4310(c)(4)&nbsp;(the
&#147;Staff Determination&#148;). As a result, AVANT&#146;s common stock is subject to be
delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market on January&nbsp;17, 2008. Following
procedures set forth in the Nasdaq Marketplace Rule&nbsp;4800 series, AVANT has
requested a hearing before a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel (the &#147;Panel&#148;)
to review the Staff Determination. The hearing request will stay the delisting
of AVANT&#146;s common stock, pending the decision of the Panel, allowing it to
continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Historically Panels have generally
viewed a near-term reverse stock split as the only definitive plan acceptable
to resolve a bid price deficiency. AVANT expects to execute such a reverse
stock split in connection with its pending merger with Celldex Therapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.
(&#147;Celldex&#148;). There can be no assurance however, that the Panel will grant AVANT&#146;s
request for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In
the event that the Panel denies AVANT&#146;s request for continued listing on the
Nasdaq Capital Market, AVANT&#146;s common stock shall be delisted from the Nasdaq
Capital Market.&#160; Following such
delisting, AVANT&#146;s common stock could be eligible to trade on the OTC Bulletin
Board. Further, AVANT may apply to trade on the Nasdaq Global Market following
the closing of the proposed merger with Celldex.&#160; Additional information on AVANT
Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. can be obtained through our site on the World
Wide Web:&#160; http://www.avantimmune.com.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Additional Information about the Merger and Where to Find It</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect
of the proposed merger of AVANT and Celldex. In connection with the proposed
merger, AVANT and Celldex intend to file relevant materials with the SEC,
including AVANT&#146;s proxy statement/prospectus on Form&nbsp;S-4.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">SHAREHOLDERS OF AVANT ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED
WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING AVANT&#146;S PROXY STATEMENT, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents free
of charge at the SEC&#146;s web site, http://www.sec.gov, and AVANT shareholders
will receive information at an appropriate time on how to obtain
transaction-related documents for free from AVANT. Such documents are not
currently available.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Participants in the Solicitation</font></i></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The directors and executive officers of AVANT and Celldex may be deemed
to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of AVANT
common stock in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the
directors and executive officers of AVANT is set forth in the proxy statement
for AVANT&#146;s most recent 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March&nbsp;16,
2007. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interest of
AVANT and its directors and executive officers, and Celldex and its directors
and executive officers in the proposed transaction by reading the proxy
statement regarding the acquisition when it becomes available.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995: </font></i></b><i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">The statements made in this press
release which are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section&nbsp;27A of the Securities Act of 1933
and Section&nbsp;21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without
limitation, statements that may be identified by words such as &#147;expectations,&#148; &#147;remains,&#148;
&#147;focus,&#148; &#147;expected,&#148; &#147;prospective,&#148; &#147;expanding,&#148; &#147;building,&#148; &#147;continue,&#148; &#147;progress,&#148;
&#147;plan,&#148; &#147;efforts,&#148; &#147;hope,&#148; &#147;believe,&#148; &#147;objectives,&#148; &#147;opportunities,&#148; &#147;will,&#148; &#147;seek,&#148;
and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events and
trends and which do not constitute historical matters identify forward-looking
statements. These statements also include statements regarding: (i)&nbsp;AVANT&#146;s
expectations regarding its restructuring and quarterly cash burn rate, (ii)&nbsp;AVANT&#146;s
expectations regarding the Merger (iii)&nbsp;AVANT&#146;s expectations of royalty
payments from PRF related to Rotarix, (iv)&nbsp;AVANT&#146;s expectations to
initiate its own sponsored double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2
dose-ranging trial of Ty800 and Phase 1/2 trial of its ETEC Cholera vaccine
candidate, and (v)&nbsp;statements made regarding AVANT&#146;s goals for its
programs and products. This release includes forward-looking statements that
are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and reflect AVANT&#146;s current
views with respect to future events and financial performance. There are a
number of important factors that could cause the actual future experience and
results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statement made by AVANT.</font></i></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Factors related to the Merger include, but are not limited to: (i)&nbsp;costs
related to the Merger; (ii)&nbsp;failure of AVANT&#146;s shareholders to approve the
Merger; (iii)&nbsp;AVANT&#146;s or Celldex&#146;s inability to satisfy the conditions of
the Merger; (iv)&nbsp;AVANT&#146;s inability to maintain its NASDAQ listing; (v)&nbsp;the
risk that AVANT&#146;s and Celldex&#146;s businesses will not be integrated successfully;
(vi)&nbsp;the combined company&#146;s inability to further identify, develop and
achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; (vii)&nbsp;the
possibility of Merger-related delays in the research and development necessary
to select drug development candidates and delays in clinical trials; (viii)&nbsp;the
risk that clinical trials by the combined company may not result in marketable
products; (ix)&nbsp;the risk that the combined company may be unable to
successfully secure regulatory approval of and market its drug candidates; (x)&nbsp;the
risks associated with reliance on outside financing to meet capital
requirements; (xi) risks associated with Celldex&#146;s new and uncertain technology
and the development of competing technologies; and (xii) risks related to the
combined company&#146;s ability to protect its proprietary technologies and
patent-infringement claim.</font></i></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Factors
not related to the Merger include, but are not limited to: (1)&nbsp;the ability
to adapt AVANT&#146;s vectoring systems to develop new, safe and effective orally
administered vaccines against other disease causing agents; (2)&nbsp;the
ability to successfully complete product research and further development,
including animal, pre-clinical and clinical studies, and commercialization of
CholeraGarde(R)&nbsp;(Peru-15), Ty800, ETEC Cholera vaccine, and other products
and AVANT&#146;s expectations regarding market growth; </font></i></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;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="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>

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<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">(3)&nbsp;the
cost, timing, scope and results of ongoing safety and efficacy trials of
CholeraGarde(R)&nbsp;(Peru-15), Ty800, ETEC Cholera vaccine and other
preclinical and clinical testing; (4)&nbsp;the ability to negotiate strategic
partnerships or other disposition transactions for AVANT&#146;s cardiovascular
programs, including TP10 and CETi; (5)&nbsp;the ability of AVANT to manage
multiple clinical trials for a variety of product candidates; (6)&nbsp;AVANT&#146;s
expectations regarding its technological capabilities and expanding its focus
to broader markets for vaccines; (7)&nbsp;AVANT&#146;s ability to develop products
through its collaborations; (8)&nbsp;changes in existing and potential
relationships with corporate collaborators; (9)&nbsp;the availability, cost,
delivery and quality of clinical and commercial grade materials produced at
AVANT&#146;s own manufacturing facility or supplied by contract manufacturers and
partners; (10)&nbsp;the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory
approvals; (11) the ability to develop and commercialize products before
competitors that are superior to the alternatives developed by competitors;
(12) the ability to retain certain members of management;(13) AVANT&#146;s
expectations regarding research and development expenses and general and
administrative expenses; (14) AVANT&#146;s expectations regarding cash balances,
capital requirements, anticipated royalty payments (including those from PRF),
revenues and expenses, including infrastructure expenses; (15) AVANT&#146;s belief
regarding the validity of its patents and potential litigation; and (16)
certain other factors that might cause AVANT&#146;s actual results to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements including those set
forth under the headings &#147;Business,&#148; &#147;Risk Factors&#148; and Management&#146;s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations&#148;</font></i></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;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="color:windowtext;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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<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">in AVANT&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31,
2006, as well as those described in AVANT&#146;s other press releases and filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time. You should
carefully review all of these factors, and you should be aware that there may
be other factors that could cause these differences. These forward-looking
statements were based on information, plans and estimates at the date of this
press release, and AVANT does not undertake to update any forward-looking
statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new
information, future events or other changes.</font></i></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;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="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4</font></p>

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