Praful Naik, the founder Director & CEO of Prashak is an experienced Pharma professional with Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in Pharmaceutics from the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University which is now the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University. Before founding Prashak, Praful had over a decade of multi-faceted experience encompassing R&D, Technical Services, Regulatory, Quality Systems, Contract Manufacturing and Intellectual Property Management in the Medical devices and Pharmaceutical sectors at Ethicon, Div. of Johnson & Johnson; SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals and Cadila Pharmaceuticals. During this period, Praful was involved in working on and bringing out several innovative products in the areas of medical devices including a novel collagen-based film for burns and various pharmaceutical product formulations including the development of aqueous coating technology for highly moisture sensitive dosage forms. Praful steered the establishment of Bilcare’s Clinical Trials Manufacturing facility which not only became the first of its kind of facility in India but also in the whole of Asia. Praful was conferred with the "Outstanding Contribution to 54th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress" by the 54th IPC Trust in 2014, the Certificate of Innovation for the nonClonableID technology at "Innovations 2010", "Outstanding Performance Award" by Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research in 2009 and "Distinguished Service to Profession" by Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India in 2008. Praful is also a registered Pharmacist registered under the Maharashtra State Pharmacy Council.

Praful has been a member of the Sectoral Innovation Council on Intellectual Property Rights and National IPR policy constituted by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India; Member, Expert Committee of Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission; Member, National Working group on Scientific & Technological Measures to counter Spurious and Substandard Drugs constituted by the Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India; Member of the CII’s National Committee of IP Owners and has been nominated as a member on the Technical Committee & Working group of the Center of Excellence formed jointly by The Patient Safety & Access Initiative of India Foundation and IIT-BHU for enabling initiatives leading to safe medicines access & Quality healthcare.

Praful also serves as the Science & Technology Advisor to several organizations comprising Start-up’s as well as established organizations involved in development and commercialization of Innovations in the field of medical diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and natural products.

To facilitate and support the Pharmaceutical sector, particularly in the Clinical trials and supplies as well as pharmaceuticals supplies, Prashak has also received approvals for Drugs and medical products sales and distribution from the Foods and Drugs Administration, Pune.