UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                  July 22, 2004


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


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


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


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




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

      (c) Exhibits.

          99.1 The Company's Press Release dated July 22, 2004.

ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

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

          On July 22, 2004, the Company issued a press release which is attached
          to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.





                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                                  AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.



Date:  July 22, 2004                              By: /s/ Avery W. Catlin
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     Avery W. Catlin
                                                     Senior Vice President and
                                                     Chief Financial Officer





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit                                                            Sequential
Number                 Description                                 Page Number
- ------                 -----------                                 -----------

99.1                   The Company's Press Release                      4
                       dated July 22, 2004