Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 18, 2008 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

June 17, 2008