Jan 30 (Reuters) - Vertex Pharmaceuticals said on Tuesday its experimental drug for treating post-surgical pain succeeded in a pair of late-stage trials, a major milestone in the company's decades-long efforts to bring a non-opioid pain medicine to market.

The drug was more effective in reducing the intensity of pain, measured by patients' self-reported rating of their discomfort, compared with a placebo after 48 hours in the two studies.

A third trial tested the drug, "VX-548", for general acute pain for up to 14 days.

The late-stage studies involved patients who underwent surgery to remove bunions on the toes or an abdominoplasty, commonly known as a "tummy tuck".

Analysts have forecast more than $5 billion in annual peak sales for the drug that would offer a less addictive option to millions of patients with acute pain, if approved. (Reporting by Leroy Leo, Sriparna Roy, Khushi Mandowara in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Bill Berkrot and Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)