TiGenix to obtain national reimbursement in Spain for its innovative cartilage therapy ChondroCelect®

Leuven (BELGIUM), Madrid (SPAIN) - March 12, 2013 - TiGenix NV (Euronext Brussels: TIG), the European leader in cell therapy, announced today that it was informed by the Spanish Health Authority that its innovative cartilage repair therapy ChondroCelect^® will obtain national reimbursement in Spain.

"We are delighted with the decision of the Spanish health authorities to reimburse ChondroCelect, and look forward to working with Spanish orthopedic centers of excellence to routinely make this breakthrough therapy available to the right patients in Spain," said Eduardo Bravo, CEO of TiGenix. "After obtaining national reimbursement in the Netherlands last year, this constitutes another major step in improving patient access to this innovative therapy. We keep working to obtain national reimbursement in other European countries later this year."

For more information:

Eduardo Bravo, Chief Executive Officer, eduardo.bravo@tigenix.com            

Claudia D'Augusta, Chief Financial Officer, claudia.daugusta@tigenix.com

Hans Herklots, hans.herklots@tigenix.com, +32 16 39 79 73

About TiGenix

TiGenix NV (Euronext Brussels: TIG) is a leading European cell therapy company with a marketed product for cartilage repair, ChondroCelect®, and a strong pipeline with clinical stage allogeneic adult stem cell programs for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. TiGenix is based out of Leuven (Belgium) and has operations in Madrid (Spain), and Sittard-Geleen (the Netherlands). For more information please visit www.tigenix.com.

About ChondroCelect

ChondroCelect is the first and currently only cell therapy that has been granted market authorisation by the European Union in accordance with the Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product regulation EC1394/2007. For more information, including the European Public Assessment Report (EPAR), prescribing information, and the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) please visit the European Medicines Agency (EMA) website at www.ema.europa.eu

Forward-looking information

This document may contain forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of TiGenix and the market in which it operates. Certain of these statements, forecasts and estimates can be recognised by the use of words such as, without limitation, "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "seeks", "estimates", "may", "will" and "continue" and similar expressions. They include all matters that are not historical facts. Such statements, forecasts and estimates are based on various assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable when made but may or may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict and may depend upon factors that are beyond TiGenix' control. Therefore, actual results, the financial condition, performance or achievements of TiGenix, or industry results, may turn out to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements, forecasts and estimates. Given these uncertainties, no representations are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates only speak as of the date of the publication of this document. TiGenix disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statement, forecast or estimates to reflect any change in TiGenix' expectations with regard thereto, or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement, forecast or estimate is based, except to the extent required by Belgian law.