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


                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                              (Amendment No. ___)*


                          AVANT Immunotherapeutics Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                    Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   0000534911
                    ----------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)





                               September 22, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the  appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

       [ ]   Rule 13d-1(b)

       [X]   Rule 13d-1(c)

       [ ]   Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any  subsequent  amendment  containing  information  which  would  alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 (the "Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the
Act but shall be subject to all other  provisions of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).


- ----------------------------- --------------------------- CUSIP No. 0000534911 13G PAGE 2 OF 6 PAGES - ----------------------------- --------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS: I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Nomura International plc - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United Kingdom - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 2,604,167 NUMBER OF -------------------------------------------------------- SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY -0- EACH -------------------------------------------------------- REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER PERSON WITH 2,604,167 -------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,604,167 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 5.4% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) BD - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 3 of 6 Pages Item 1(a). Name of Issuer. AVANT Immunotherapeutics Inc. Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices. 119 Fourth Avenue Item 1(b). Needham, Massachusetts 02194-2725 Names of Persons Filing. Item 2(a). Nomura International plc Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence. Nomura House 1 St. Martin's-le-Grand London ECIA 4NP Item 2(b). England Citizenship. Item 2(c). United Kingdom corporation Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities. Common Stock, par value $.001 per share.

Page 4 of 6 Pages CUSIP Number. Item 2(e). 0000534911 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to ss.ss.240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b) [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d) [ ] Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8). (e) [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). If this statement is filed pursuant to ss.240.13d-1(c), check this box [X]. Item 4. Ownership. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 2,604,167 shares (b) Percent of class: 5.4% (c) Number of shares as to which the person has:

Page 5 of 6 Pages (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 2,604,167 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: -0- (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 2,604,167 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: -0- Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the benficial owner of more than five percent of the class of sercurities, check the following [ ]. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Inapplicable. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company. Inapplicable. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Inapplicable. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Inapplicable. Item 10. Certification. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

Page 6 of 6 Pages /s/ David Gordon After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: October 1, 1999 Nomura International plc By: /s/ David Gordon -------------------------------- Name: David Gordon Title: Chief Compliance Officer