The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an organic arsenic compound having the structurewhereinR1 and R2 are independently alkyls with 1-10 carbon atomsX is S or SeR3 is -COOH, -CH2-COOH, -CH2-CH2-COOH, -CH(CH3)-COOH, -CH(CH2-CH3)-COOH, or -CH2-CH2-CH2-COOHn is 0 or 1R4 is -OH, -H, -CH3, or a glutamine substituent orR3 and R4, together with C1 and C2, form an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic ring andR5 is -OH or a glycine substituentor a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.