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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-08-016816.txt : 20080311
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-08-016816.hdr.sgml : 20080311
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080311172634
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-08-016816
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		5
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080306
ITEM INFORMATION:		Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
ITEM INFORMATION:		Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing
ITEM INFORMATION:		Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders
ITEM INFORMATION:		Changes in Control of Registrant
ITEM INFORMATION:		Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080311
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080311

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:		08681612

	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>a08-7923_18k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>

<html>

<head>





</head>

<body lang="EN-US">

<div>

<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>

<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>

</div>

<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;"><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="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 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;"><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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported): <b>March&nbsp;6,
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;"><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>

<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%;">
 <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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</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;">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 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 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: <b>(781)
433-0771</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="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%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="100%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:100.0%;">
  <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>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.0%;">
  <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="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Written communications
  pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.0%;">
  <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="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Soliciting material
  pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.0%;">
  <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="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" 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>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.0%;">
  <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="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" 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>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<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>

<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>

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

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\lcunha\08-7923-1\task2770615\7923-1-ba.htm',USER='lcunha',CD='Mar 11 15:52 2008' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


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

<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;2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.</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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.</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;">On
March&nbsp;7, 2008, AVANT Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. (&#147;AVANT&#148;) announced it
had closed the merger pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October&nbsp;19,
2007 (the &#147;Merger Agreement&#148;) by and among AVANT, Callisto Merger Corporation (&#147;Merger
Sub&#148;), a wholly owned subsidiary of AVANT, and Celldex Therapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.
(&#147;Celldex&#148;). Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, Merger Sub merged
with and into Celldex, with Celldex as the surviving company and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of AVANT. The total value of the transaction is approximately $75
million. Approximately 104.8 million shares (on a pre-split basis) are being
issued to the former Celldex shareholders in connection with the merger.</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;">Celldex
shareholders will receive approximately 4.96 shares of AVANT common stock in
exchange for each share of Celldex common stock and Class&nbsp;A common stock
they own. AVANT stockholders will retain 42% of, and the former Celldex
stockholders will own 58% of, the outstanding shares of AVANT&#146;s common stock on
a fully-diluted basis. AVANT will also assume all of Celldex&#146;s stock options
outstanding at the time of the merger.</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 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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On February&nbsp;29, 2008, AVANT received notice from the Listing
Qualifications Department of The NASDAQ Stock Market indicating that AVANT has
been approved to list its common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market. AVANT&#146;s
common stock began trading on The NASDAQ Global Market, and ceased trading on
The NASDAQ Capital Market, at the opening of business on March&nbsp;10, 2008.</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 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security
Holders</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;">In
connection with the closing of the merger, AVANT and Computershare Trust
Company, N.A, as Rights Agent, entered into Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to the Rights
Agreement, dated as of March&nbsp;7, 2008 (the &#147;<u>Rights Amendment</u>&#148;). The
Amendment provides that: (i)&nbsp;the definition of Grandfathered Percentage
shall include the percentage of post-merger ownership of AVANT&#146;s common shares
plus an additional 1/2 percent beneficially owned by Medarex,&nbsp;Inc. and
Lorantis Holdings Limited respectively as of immediately following the
effective time of the merger and (ii)&nbsp;the definition of Grandfathered
Person shall include Medarex,&nbsp;Inc. and Lorantis Holdings Limited.</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
foregoing description of the Rights Amendment is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such Rights Amendment, which was filed as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to the
Form&nbsp;8-A/A filed by AVANT with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March&nbsp;7,
2008, and which is incorporated herein by reference.</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 5.02 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;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Directors</font></i></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;">Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, and
as stated in the proxy statement/prospectus set forth in a registration
statement on Form&nbsp;S-4 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on December&nbsp;21, 2007, as amended (the &#147;Proxy Statement&#148;), a</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">ll options to
purchase Celldex common stock outstanding at the effective time of the merger
granted under the Celldex&#146;s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan</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>

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

<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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(the
&#147;Celldex Plan&#148;) have been assumed by AVANT and the following individuals have been elected to the Board of Directors of
AVANT (the &#147;Board&#148;) as of March&nbsp;7, 2008:</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;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Charles
Schaler,</font></i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> who will be Chairman of the Board, has been named
chair of the Compensation Committee and
has been named to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the
Board. Mr.&nbsp;Schaller had options granted under the Celldex Plan
which were outstanding at the effective time of the merger and have been
assumed by AVANT representing options for 14,882 AVANT shares on a post-split-as-converted basis;</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;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">George
Elston</font></i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> has been named to the Audit
Committee of the Board. Mr.&nbsp;Elston had options granted under the Celldex
Plan which were outstanding at the effective time of the merger and have been
assumed by AVANT representing options for 17,879 AVANT shares on a post-split-as-converted basis;</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;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Herbert
Conrad</font></i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> has been named chair of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr.&nbsp;Conrad had options granted under
the Celldex Plan which were outstanding at the effective time of the
merger and have been assumed by AVANT representing options for 17,879 AVANT shares on a
post-split-as-converted basis; and</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;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Dr.&nbsp;Rajesh&nbsp;B.
Parekh</font></i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> has been named to the Compensation
Committee. Dr.&nbsp;Parekh had options granted under the Celldex Plan
which were outstanding at the effective time of the merger and have been
assumed by AVANT representing options for 17,879 AVANT shares on a post-split-as-converted basis.</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;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Officer &#151; Anthony S. Marucci</font></i></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;">Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, and
as stated in the Proxy Statement, as of March&nbsp;7, 2008 </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">the Board
appointed Anthony S. Marucci as
the Executive Vice President, Corporate Development of AVANT. Information
concerning Mr.&nbsp;Marucci, including the positions he holds with AVANT and
its subsidiaries and his business experience during the past five years, is
included in the Proxy Statement, and such information is incorporated by
reference herein. Mr.&nbsp;Marucci, age 45, is employed pursuant to an
employment agreement with Celldex. In addition, Mr.&nbsp;Marucci had options granted under the Celldex
Plan which were outstanding at the effective time of the merger and have been
assumed by AVANT representing options for 254,243 AVANT shares on a post-split-as-converted basis. Mr.&nbsp;Marucci&#146;s
employment agreement provides him with certain benefits in the event he is
terminated without cause, Mr.&nbsp;Marucci terminates employment with good
reason, or Mr.&nbsp;Marucci terminates his employment within one year following
the consummation of the merger. Information concerning Mr.&nbsp;Marucci&#146;s
employment agreement is included in the Proxy Statement under the heading &#147;Celldex&#146;s
Compensation Discussion and Analysis,&#148; subheading &#147;Potential Payments Upon
Termination of Employment or Change in Control,&#148; and such information is
incorporated by reference herein.</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 8.01 Other Events.</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;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Shareholder Meeting</font></i></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;">At
the special meeting of AVANT shareholders held on March&nbsp;6, 2008 in
connection with the merger, shareholders approved four proposals: (i)&nbsp;the
issuance of shares of AVANT common stock pursuant to the merger agreement in
the amount necessary to result in the Celldex stockholders owning 58% of AVANT
common stock on a fully diluted basis, (ii)&nbsp;an amendment to AVANT&#146;s Third
Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares to 300,000,000, (iii)&nbsp;an amendment to AVANT&#146;s Third Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split in a ratio ranging
from one-for-twelve to one-for-twenty of all issued and outstanding shares of
AVANT</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;">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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">common
stock, the final ratio to be determined within the discretion of the Board and (iv)&nbsp;adoption
of the 2008 stock option and incentive plan.</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;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Reverse
Stock Split</font></i></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
Board has approved a 1-for-12 reverse stock split of AVANT&#146;s common stock,
which became effective as of March&nbsp;7, 2008. As a result of the reverse
stock split, each twelve shares of AVANT common stock will be combined and
reclassified into one share of AVANT common stock and the total number of
shares outstanding will be reduced from approximately 180 million shares
(including the shares issued to Celldex shareholders in connection with the
merger) to approximately 14 million shares.</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 AVANT common stock
will trade under the symbol &#147;AVAND&#148; for 20 trading days beginning on March&nbsp;10,
2008 to designate that it is trading on a post-reverse split basis, and will
resume trading under the symbol &#147;AVAN&#148; after the 20-day period has expired.</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;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Press Release</font></i></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;">On March&nbsp;7, 2008
AVANT issued a press release announcing the completed merger with Celldex, the
1-12 reverse stock split, and the results of the shareholder meeting. A copy of
the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1.</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. 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;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; <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="6%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:6.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit Number</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.32%;">
  <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="90%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:90.9%;">
  <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="6%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:6.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.32%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="90%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:90.9%;">
  <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="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:6.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.1</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.32%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:90.9%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Fourth
  Certificate of Amendment of Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
  AVANT Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:6.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.2</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.32%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:90.9%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Fifth
  Certificate of Amendment of Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
  AVANT Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:6.78%;">
  <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="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.32%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:90.9%;">
  <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 March&nbsp;7, 2008</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;">4</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></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 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;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; 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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.58%;">
  <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="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.42%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.58%;">
  <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:3.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:45.84%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dated: March&nbsp;11,
  2008</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:45.84%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name: Avery W. Catlin</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:&nbsp; &nbsp;Senior
  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</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;">5</font></p>

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

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<TYPE>EX-3.1
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<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:right;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit
3.1</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FOURTH
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">OF THE</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">THIRD
RESTATED</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">OF</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">AVANT
IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; AVANT
Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and
by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
&#147;Corporation&#148;), does hereby certify:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FIRST:</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; That
at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation on October&nbsp;19,
2007 resolutions were duly adopted setting forth a proposed amendment of the
Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Corporation,
declaring such amendment to be advisable and calling a meeting of the
stockholders of the Corporation for consideration thereof.&#160; The resolution setting forth the proposed
amendment is as follows:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">RESOLVED:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">That the first
paragraph of Article&nbsp;FOURTH of the Third Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, of the Corporation is hereby amended to read in its
entirety as follows:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;punctuation-wrap:hanging;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#147;FOURTH: The total number of
shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue
is 300,000,000 shares of which (i)&nbsp;297,000,000 shares shall be common
stock, par value $.001 per share (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;) and (ii)&nbsp;3,000,000
shares shall be preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, all of which shall
be designated Class&nbsp;C Preferred Stock (&#147;Class&nbsp;C Stock&#148;) of which
350,000 shall be designated Series&nbsp;C-1 Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock (the &#147;Series&nbsp;C-1 Preferred Stock&#148;).&#148;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;punctuation-wrap:hanging;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECOND:</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; The
amendment of the Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation set forth herein
was duly authorized by resolution of the Corporation&#146;s Board of Directors and
was considered and duly authorized by the stockholders of the Corporation at
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation duly called and held upon
notice in accordance with Section&nbsp;222 of the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware at which meeting the necessary number of shares as
required by statute were voted in favor of the amendment.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">THIRD:</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; That
said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of
Section&nbsp;242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><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; IN WITNESS WHEREOF, AVANT
Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc., a Delaware corporation, has caused this Fourth
Certificate of Amendment of the Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
the Corporation to be signed this 7th day of March, 2008.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><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="43%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:43.36%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="56%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:56.64%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">AVANT
  Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="43%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:43.36%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="56%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:56.64%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="43%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:43.36%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><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:3.32%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="29%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:29.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/
  Una S. Ryan</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="23%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:23.4%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="43%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:43.36%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="56%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:56.64%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name:
  Una S. Ryan, Ph.D.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="43%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:43.36%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="56%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:56.64%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:
  President and Chief Executive Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 204.0pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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<TYPE>EX-3.2
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>a08-7923_1ex3d2.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-3.2
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<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:right;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit
3.2</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FIFTH
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">OF THE</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">THIRD
RESTATED</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">OF</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">AVANT
IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; AVANT
Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and
by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
&#147;Corporation&#148;), does hereby certify:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FIRST:</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; By
unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation dated as of January&nbsp;15, 2008, resolutions were duly adopted
setting forth a proposed amendment of the Third Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, of the Corporation, declaring such amendment to be
advisable and declaring that such amendment be considered at a meeting of the
stockholders of the Corporation previously called at a meeting of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation on October&nbsp;19, 2007. The resolution setting
forth the proposed amendment is as follows:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">RESOLVED</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; The
first two paragraphs of Article&nbsp;FOURTH of the Third Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended, of the Corporation are hereby amended to read in
their entirety as follows:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#147;FOURTH: </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#147;Effective
upon the filing of this Certificate of Amendment of the Third Restated
Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware (the &#147;<u>Effective Date</u>&#148;), every twelve (12) to twenty (20) shares
of the Corporation&#146;s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the &#147;<u>Old
Common Stock</u>&#148;) then issued and outstanding or held in the treasury of the
Corporation at the close of business on the Effective Date, the exact ratio
within the twelve-to-twenty range to be determined by the board of directors of
the Corporation prior to the Effective Date and publicly announced by the
Corporation, shall automatically be combined into one (1)&nbsp;share of the Corporation&#146;s
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the &#147;<u>New Common Stock</u>&#148;),
without any further action by the holders of such shares of Old Common Stock
(and any fractional shares resulting from such exchange will not be issued but
will be paid out in cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">closing price
of the </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Corporation&#146;s
Common Stock one (1)&nbsp;business day prior to the Effective Date). Each stock
certificate representing shares of Old Common Stock shall thereafter represent
that number of shares of New Common Stock into which the shares of Old Common
Stock represented by such certificate shall have been combined; provided,
however, that each person holding of record a stock certificate or certificates
that represented shares of Old Common Stock shall receive, upon surrender of
such certificate or certificates, a new certificate or certificates evidencing
and representing the number of shares of New Common Stock to which such person </font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;punctuation-wrap:simple;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 .5in;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;punctuation-wrap:simple;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 .5in;punctuation-wrap:simple;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 .5in;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">is entitled. The Company
shall not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing the shares of New
Common Stock issuable as set forth above unless certificates evidencing such
shares of Old Common Stock are either delivered to the Company, or the holder
notifies the Company that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed
and executes an agreement satisfactory to the Company to indemnify the Company
from any loss incurred by it in connection therewith. The New Common Stock
issued in this exchange shall have the same rights, preferences and privileges
as the Common Stock (as defined below).</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;punctuation-wrap:simple;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 .5in;punctuation-wrap:hanging;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The total number of shares
of capital stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is
300,000,000 shares of which (i)&nbsp;297,000,000 shares shall be common stock,
par value $.001 per share (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;) and (ii)&nbsp;3,000,000 shares
shall be preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, all of which shall be
designated Class&nbsp;C Preferred Stock (&#147;Class&nbsp;C Stock&#148;) of which 350,000
shall be designated Series&nbsp;C-1 Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock (the &#147;Series&nbsp;C-1 Preferred Stock&#148;).&#148;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;punctuation-wrap:hanging;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECOND</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; The
amendment of the Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation set forth herein
was duly authorized by resolution of the Corporation&#146;s Board of Directors and
was considered and duly authorized by the stockholders of the Corporation at
the Special Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation duly called and held
upon notice in accordance with Section&nbsp;222 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware at which meeting the necessary number of shares as
required by statute were voted in favor of the amendment.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;text-indent:27.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">THIRD:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">That said
amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of
Section&nbsp;242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

</div>
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<div>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><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; IN WITNESS WHEREOF, AVANT
Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc., a Delaware corporation, has caused this Fifth
Certificate of Amendment of the Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
the Corporation to be signed this 7th day of March, 2008.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">AVANT
  Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.</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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><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:3.32%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="29%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:29.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/
  Una S. Ryan</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="20%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:20.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name:
  Una S. Ryan, Ph.D.</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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><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;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:
  President and Chief Executive Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 204.0pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>a08-7923_1ex99d1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-99.1
<TEXT>

<html>

<head>





</head>

<body lang="EN-US">

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

<p align="right" style="color:#000099;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit&nbsp;99.1</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>

<h1 align="center" style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><img width="332" height="63" src="g79231mmi001.gif"></font></b></h1>

<h1 align="center" style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></h1>

<h1 style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE/March&nbsp;7, 2008</font></b></h1>

<h1 style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></h1>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Una
  S. Ryan, Ph.D.</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.84%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.36%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Avery
  W. Catlin</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.22%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;"><font style="text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></font></u></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.44%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">For
  Media:</font></u></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">President
  and CEO</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.84%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.36%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief
  Financial Officer</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.22%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.44%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Joan
  Kureczka</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in -1.25in .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">AVANT
  Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.84%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in -1.25in .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.36%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in -1.25in .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">AVANT
  Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.22%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in -1.25in .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.44%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in -1.25in .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Kureczka/Martin Associates</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(781)
  433-0771</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.84%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.36%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(781)
  433-0771</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.22%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.44%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(415)
  821-2413</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in -.5in .0001pt 0in;"><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:2.84%;">
  <p style="color:blue;margin:0in -.5in .0001pt 0in;text-decoration:underline;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;"><font style="text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></font></u></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.36%;">
  <p style="color:blue;margin:0in -.5in .0001pt 0in;text-decoration:underline;"><u><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:black;font-size:10.0pt;">info@avantimmune.com</font></u></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.22%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in -.5in .0001pt 0in;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;"><font style="text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></font></u></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:31.44%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in -.5in .0001pt 0in;"><u><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:black;font-size:10.0pt;">jkureczka@comcast.net</font></u></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<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;">&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 ANNOUNCES COMPLETED MERGER
WITH CELLDEX</font></b></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;">AND 1-FOR-12 REVERSE STOCK SPLIT</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 align="center" style="color:#000099;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><em><b><i><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Results of Shareholder Meeting also Announced &#151; All Resolutions
Approved</font></i></b></em></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 (March&nbsp;7, 2008): </font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">AVANT Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. (Nasdaq:
AVAN) announced today the completed merger of Callisto Merger Corporation, its
wholly-owned subsidiary, with and into Celldex Therapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.,
resulting in the combined company which will continue to be named AVANT and
trade under the NASDAQ ticker symbol AVAN.</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;">&#147;We
are extremely pleased that our shareholders recognized the intrinsic value of
this merger and believe that with the closing of this transaction we have built
a strong, diversified company,&#148; said Dr.&nbsp;Una Ryan, President and CEO of
AVANT. &#147;We look forward to making substantial progress in the development of
our portfolio of immunotherapy candidates and communicating this progress to
our shareholders throughout the year. We thank them for their continued
support.&#148;</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;">&#147;The combined company is built on mutual expertise in
developing novel immunotherapy products and brings together an exceptional
management team with proven experience in all aspects of drug development. We
believe that these key attributes create a stronger AVANT to realize the
potential of our novel immunotherapy candidates,&#148; said Charles Schaller,
Chairman of Celldex. &#147;I look forward to working with the new AVANT team to
advance the Company&#146;s promising pipeline.&#148;</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;">Approximately
104.8 million shares (on a pre-split basis) are being issued to the former
Celldex shareholders in connection with the merger, having a value of
approximately $75 million.</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;">Under
the terms of the merger agreement, Celldex shareholders will receive approximately
4.96 shares of common stock in exchange for each share of Celldex common stock
and Class&nbsp;A common stock they own.&#160;
AVANT stockholders will retain 42% of, and the former Celldex
stockholders will own 58% of, the outstanding shares of AVANT&#146;s common stock on
a fully-diluted basis. AVANT will also assume all of Celldex&#146;s stock options
outstanding at the time of the merger.</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;">At
the special meeting of AVANT shareholders held on March&nbsp;6, 2008 in
connection with the merger, shareholders approved four proposals: (i)&nbsp;the
issuance of shares of AVANT common stock pursuant to </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 align="center" style="color:windowtext;line-height:18.0pt;margin:6.0pt 0in 12.0pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">-more-</font></p>

<div align="right" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><a name="Table"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="black" align="right">

</font></b></a></div>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">19 FOURTH AVENUE&#160;&#160;
NEEDHAM, MA&#160; 02494-2725 USA&#160;&#160; 781-433-0771&#160;&#160; FAX&#160;
781-433-0262&#160; www.avantimmune.com</font></b></p>

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

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<div>

<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;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">the
merger agreement in the amount necessary to result in the Celldex stockholders
owning 58% of AVANT common stock on a fully diluted basis, (ii)&nbsp;an
amendment to AVANT&#146;s Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase
the number of authorized shares to 300,000,000, (iii)&nbsp;an amendment to
AVANT&#146;s Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock
split in a ratio ranging from one-for-twelve to one-for-twenty of all issued
and outstanding shares of AVANT common stock, the final ratio to be determined
within the discretion of the AVANT board of directors and (iv)&nbsp;adoption of
the 2008 stock option and incentive plan.</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;">AVANT&#146;s
board of directors has approved a 1-for-12 reverse stock split of AVANT&#146;s
common stock, which became effective today, March&nbsp;7, 2008. As a result of
the reverse stock split, each twelve shares of common stock will be combined
and reclassified into one share of common stock and the total number of shares
outstanding will be reduced from approximately 180 million shares (including
the shares issued to Celldex shareholders in connection with the merger) to
approximately 15 million shares.</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;">The
AVANT common stock will trade under the symbol &#147;AVAND&#148; for 20 trading days
beginning on March&nbsp;10, 2008 to designate that it is trading on a
post-reverse split basis, and will resume trading under the symbol &#147;AVAN&#148; after
the 20-day period has expired.</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;">About
AVANT Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.:</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;">AVANT
Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. is a NASDAQ-listed company discovering and
developing innovative vaccines and targeted immunotherapeutics for the
treatment of cancer, infectious and inflammatory diseases.&#160; AVANT focuses on the use of tumor-specific
targets and human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to precisesly deliver
therapeutic agents through its novel &#145;targeted immunization&#146; approach.&#160; AVANT also possesses innovative bacterial
vector delivery technologies with unique manufacturing and preservation
processes that offer the potential for a new generation of infectious disease
vaccines. AVANT has three commercialized products, including Rotarix<sup>&#174;</sup>
for the prevention of rotavirus infection and two human food safety vaccines
for reducing salmonella infection in chickens and eggs. AVANT&#146;s deep product
pipeline consists of products in varying stages of development, with its lead
candidate, CDX-110, currently undergoing evaluation in a Phase 2/3 clinical
trial in newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most aggressive
forms of brain cancer.&#160; AVANT also has
five product candidates in its development pipeline including:</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;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font face="Times New Roman">CDX-1307, a product based on its proprietary APC Targeting Technology(TM), which is in two Phase 1 clinical trials for patients with advanced pancreatic, bladder, breast and colon cancer;</font></p><p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p><p style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#1
60;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font face="Times New Roman">a complement inhibitor, TP10, in development for transplantation and other indications; and</font></p><p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p><p style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font face="Times New Roman">three candidates based on its oral, rapidly-protecting, single-dose and temperature-stable vaccine technology, including combination vaccines for travelers, the military and global health needs.</font></p><p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;
">&nbsp;</font></p><p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p><p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:center;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">####</font></p><p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Courier" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left">

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

<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;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Additional
information on AVANT Immunotherapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. can be obtained through our
site on the World Wide Web: 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><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.</font></i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">  <i>These statements also include statements regarding: (i)&nbsp;AVANT&#146;s
expectations regarding its integration with Celldex following the merger and (ii)&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.</i>  <i>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, including, but are not limited to: (i)&nbsp;costs
related to the merger; (ii)&nbsp;the risk that AVANT&#146;s and Celldex&#146;s businesses
will not be integrated successfully; (iii)&nbsp;the combined company&#146;s
inability to further identify, develop and achieve commercial success for new
products and technologies; (iv)&nbsp;the possibility of 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.</i></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;">&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;">-more-</font></p>

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

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`
end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
