Our Team

Carl L. Whatley, Jr.

CEO, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board

Carl Whatley is a 45-year veteran of the pharmaceutical business, possessing vast experience in both the generic and branded business.

  • He began his career in 1980 as a sales representative with Wyeth (now Pfizer).

  • After a successful 21-year stint with Wyeth, he began his entrepreneurial adventures with the founding of ProEthic Laboratories LLC in 2001. ProEthic’s primary focus was branded prescription products, and in 2008, ProEthic was successfully divested to the Kowa Company Ltd.

  • In 2002, he also founded Midlothian Laboratories, focusing on the generic Rx market, and after a successful 6-year run, was divested to Hi-Tech Pharmacal. 

  • Carl continued to serve Kowa as its CEO & Chairman until his short-lived retirement in 2009.

  • In early 2010, he formed Cendalor LLC, a boutique management consulting and investment analysis firm serving the pharmaceutical, and medical food sectors.

  • Three years later he co-founded Vitruvias Therapeutics Inc., where he currently serves as Chairman & CEO.

  • Carl is a graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery, where he obtained a B.A. in history. 

Roger Graben

President

Dr. Roger Graben is responsible for building and operating the commercial and quality assurance operations at Vitruvias. With decades of success in hospital, clinical, retail and academic settings coupled with executive-level business experience, Roger is a key leader who brings excellence and expansion to Vitruvias products and partnerships.

  • 31 year industry veteran

  • Served as Chief Operating Officer and Board Member at Kowa Pharmaceuticals America (KPA) prior to Vitruvias. Responsible for daily operations and oversight of business development, alliance management, quality assurance, pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, trade, distribution, operations, facilities, fleet, and information technology. Held several Vice Presidential roles within KPA’s various business sectors during his tenure at the company.

  • Began as a formulation scientist with Solvay Pharmaceuticals and grew through a managerial position into Director of Quality Control with Chelsea Labs (a Rugby Generics/Marion Merrill-Dow Company).

  • Licensed pharmacist who owned a successful independent retail pharmacy

  • Member of the Auburn University Research Advisory Board

  • Served on Auburn Montgomery Dean’s Advisory Council

  • B.S. in Pharmacy, M.S. and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from Auburn University

Eliot Murray

Chief Financial Officer

Eliot Murray joined Vitruvias in January of 2018, after having consulted with the company during its startup phase and Series A capital raise. In his role as Chief Financial Officer, he is responsible for all financial and accounting operations of the company. Eliot brings strong financial acumen to the team by way of unique experiences across diversified industries.

  • 12 years pharma industry experience

  • Responsible for financial planning and analysis at Kowa Pharmaceuticals America from ProEthic transaction through a branded co-promotion effort with Lilly

  • Worked in accounting and logistics roles at ProEthic Pharmaceuticals before and during the sale to Kowa

  • Served in numerous pricing and strategy functions with software, telecom, and fintech companies

  • MBA from Auburn University Montgomery

Hunter Freeman

Controller

Hunter joins Vitruvias from the automotive industry where his experience with leading manufacturers prepared him to take on the role as Senior Accountant. Hunter is an Auburn Alumnus and a United States Marine Corps veteran. From accounts receivable and inventory management, to quality control, process audits and analysis, Hunter’s approach encompasses all business functions with customer service being the ultimate focus.

  • Bachelor of Accountancy, Auburn 2011

  • Master of Business Administration, Auburn 2012

Katie Carroll

Senior Director- Regulatory Affairs and Pharmacovigilance

Dr. Katie Carroll joined Vitruvias Therapeutics in April of 2019 as the Director of Regulatory Affairs and Pharmacovigilance. Prior to joining Vitruvias, Katie served as the Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs and Pharmacovigilance for Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. in Montgomery, AL.

  • 14 years of pharmacy, clinical, and industry experience

  • Experience managing regulatory activities for regulatory applications, including NDA and IND applications

  • Experience as the US Agent

  • Strong eCTD knowledge

  • Pharmacovigilance expertise including strong clinical knowledge conducting medical evaluation for individual case safety reports, MedDRA coding, and regulatory reporting of safety information

  • Served as the responsible person for regional pharmacovigilance for the US

  • Clinical expertise in hospice & palliative care symptom management

  • Licensed pharmacist

  • Certified as a Consultant Pharmacist

  • Certified in Medication Therapy Management and Immunizations

  • Earned Doctorate of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from Auburn University

Sara Caldwell

Senior Director of Operations

Sara Caldwell is responsible for the procurement, planning, and execution of our current development programs. She brings her unique capacity, business acumen, and superior management skills to each project.

  • 18 years industry experience

  • Served in Sales, Analysis, Operations and Management positions within ProEthic Pharmaceuticals and Kowa Pharmaceuticals eventually overseeing a sales force of 300.

  • Experienced Client Manager for Health Information Designs, a leading provider of primarily healthcare-related information technology and data analytics solutions.

  • Earned Master of Business Administration from Auburn University, Montgomery.

Karen Hughes

Director- National Accounts

Karen Hughes joined the Vitruvias team in 2020 as the Pharmaceutical Account Manager, Generics, with almost 23 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She brings her knowledge and focus on relationship-building to assist with the commercial division of the company.

In January, 2022 she assumed responsibility for all of the Company’s commercial operations as the Director of National Accounts.

  • She began her pharmaceutical career with Schering-Plough in Montgomery, Alabama and has spent the last 21 years in sales, progressing from sales to management across several related healthcare industries.

  • Karen attended Auburn University (Montgomery) where she earned B.S. in Biology.