LEUVEN, BELGIUM--(Marketwire - Sep 20, 2012) - TiGenix (EURONEXT BRUSSELS: [ TIG ]) announced today that the Company has appointed JeanStéphenne as independent director and new chairman of the Company's board of directors, and Russell Greig as independent director, in replacement of Koenraad Debackere and Mounia Chaoui-Roulleau, who resigned from the board. Former chairman Willy Duron will remain an independent board member.

"We are delighted and proud to appoint these seasoned professionals, who both have an outstanding record in the pharmaceutical industry," said Willy Duron, former chairman of the Board of Directors. "Their long and broad experience with all aspects of drug development and building innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies will be of immense value as TiGenix enters into a pivotal phase of its growth with the commercial roll-out of ChondroCelect and the advanced clinical development of its cell therapy programs. The board would like to express its gratitude to Koenraad Debackere and Mounia Chaoui-Roulleau for their expert guidance and support through the years."

Jean Stéphenne

Jean Stéphenne was until recently Member of the Corporate Executive Team of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), and Chairman and President of GSK Biologicals in Wavre, Belgium, which he built into a world leader in vaccines. He currently serves as Chairman of BESIX, IBA and BioWin, and as Director of BNP Paribas Fortis, VBO/FEB, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL), and Vesalius Biocapital.

Russell G. Greig, PhD

Russell Greig worked at GlaxoSmithKline for nearly three decades, most recently as President of SR One, GSK's Corporate Venture Group. Prior to joining SR One, he served as President of GSK's Pharmaceuticals International from 2003 to 2008 and also on the GSK Corporate Executive Team. Dr Greig currently serves as Chairman of AM Pharma in the Netherlands, Isconova AB in Sweden and Syntaxin in the UK, and is a member of the Scottish Science Advisory Council.

The appointments of JeanStéphenne and Russell Greig are effective immediately subject to final appointment by the next shareholders' meeting.

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 ].

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.