** Shares of Ventyx Biosciences VTYX.O rise 16.5% to $2.66 premarket

** Says French drugmaker Sanofi SASY.PA to make equity investment of $27 million in Ventyx

** Sanofi will purchase 70,601 of co's Series A non-voting convertible preferred stock, each of which can initially be converted into 100 common shares - VTYX

** VTYX agrees to grant Sanofi exclusive right of first negotiation for certain programs associated with its drug candidate, VTX3232, being developed to treat diseases including Parkinson's disease and obesity

** VTX3232 belongs to a class of drugs that can pass through the brain's protective barrier to block a specific protein called NLRP3, involved in inflammation

** Brokerage Piper Sandler says deal emphasizes strong strategic interest in NLRP3-targeting mechanism used by the drug, which can be used to treat multiple diseases
** Up to last close, stock down ~7% YTD

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru)

((Mariam.ESunny@thomsonreuters.com))