Zidovudin og stavudin fosforyleres ved det cellulære enzym (thymidin kinase), som fortrinsvis fosforylerer zidovudin og dermed øger fosforyleringen af stavudin til dets aktive trifosfat form.
Zidovudine and stavudine are phosphorylated by the cellular enzyme (thymidine kinase), which preferentially phosphorylates zidovudine, thereby decreasing the phosphorylation of stavudine to its active triphosphate form.