UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 7, 2008

 

AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

0-15006

 

13-3191702

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

119 Fourth Avenue

Needham, Massachusetts 02494-2725

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(781) 433-0771

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

                Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 


 

Item 5.02.              Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

 

Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) has informed the Company’s Board of Directors of her intention to depart from the Company.  The Company and Dr. Ryan are currently in discussions concerning the terms of her separation.  Following Dr. Ryan’s departure, Anthony S. Marucci, currently the Executive Vice President of the Company, will serve as Chief Executive Officer and principal executive officer on an interim basis.  The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board will commence a search process which will include a review of internal and external candidates.  The Company will issue the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 with respect to Dr. Ryan’s departure.

 

Item 9.01.              Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

Exhibit

 

Description

99.1

 

Press Release issued May 14, 2008.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

 

AVANT IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 13, 2008

By:

/s/ Avery W. Catlin

 

 

Avery W. Catlin

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

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