A review is given of the background to and results of the succesful pharmacological testing of [AuX(2)(damp)] (X = Cl, OAc; damp = 2-Me(2) NCH(2)C(6) H(4)) against a range of microbes, fungi and tumouts, culminating in in vivo xenografts of ZR-1-75. These are the first fully evaluated gold(III) complexes. The activity and reactions of the diacetato-complex bear a resemblance to cisplatin, and some of the relevant chemistry is discussed. Preliminary screening data for C,P-chelated tertiary phosphine derivatives of gold(III) are presented.