Indinavir bindes reversibelt til det proteaseaktive site, hæmmer kompetitivt enzymet og forebygger derved den spaltning af det virale precursor polyprotein, som sker under modning af det nydannede, virale partikel.
Indinavir binds reversibly to the protease active site and inhibits competitively the enzyme, thereby preventing cleavage of the viral precursor polyproteins that occurs during maturation of the newly formed viral particle.