UNITED STATES SECURITIES EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 053491106 (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2007 (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [ X ] Rule 13d-1(b) [ ] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) CUSIP No. 053491106 1.Names of Reporting Persons. TSP Capital Management Group, LLC I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only). 562475911 2.Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) [ ] (b) [ ] 3.SEC Use Only 4.Citizenship or Place of Organization Delaware, United States Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 5.Sole Voting Power None 6.Shared Voting Power None 7.Sole Dispositive Power 7,563,867 8.Shared Dispositive Power None 9.Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 7,563,867 10.Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares [ ] 11.Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 10.06% 12.Type of Reporting Person: IA Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 119 FOURTH AVE NEEDHAM MA 02494 Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence Item 2(c). Citizenship TSP Capital Management Group, LLC 382 SPRINGFIELD AVENUE, SUITE 500 SUMMIT, NJ 07901 United States Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: 053491106 Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to 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. (b) - Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act. (c) - Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act. (d) - Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. (e) X An investment adviser in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) - An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) - A parent holding company or control person in accordance with 240.13d- 1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) - A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; (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; (j) - Group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). Item 4. Ownership: a. Amount beneficially owned: 7,563,867 b. Percent of Class: 10.06% c. Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote None (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote None (iii)Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 7,563,867 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition None Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class: Not applicable Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person: Not applicable Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company of Control Person: Not applicable. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group: Not applicable. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group: Not applicable. 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. SIGNATURE 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 January 16, 2008 By:/s/ Barbara J. Klepper Title: Chief Compliance Officer