Abstract: A method of treating retroviral diseases such as AIDS in an infected host is provided. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one (pseudo)halogen complex of gold(I) in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The (pseudo)halogen complex in gold(I) can be chosen from the group consisting of:R--Au--[CN], R--Au--[SCN], and R--Au--[SeCN].R may be chosen from the group consisting of: phosphines (such as triethylphosphine); halogens (such as chlorine); and pseudohalogens (such as an additional cyano, thiocyanato or selenocyanato moiety). When R is an additional cyano moiety, the complex is termed a dicyanogold(I) complex, i.e., [Au(CN).sub.2 ].sup.-, and is preferably employed as an alkali, ammonium or alkaline earth salt. When R is another moiety, the complex may be either neutral or anionic in nature, and any anionic complexes are also preferably present as alkali, ammonium or alkaline earth salts.