In an attempt to develop a non-aqueous liquid formulation of practically insoluble biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB), dissolution and permeation studies were performed. Various non-aqueous DDB solutions were formulated and filled into empty hard capsules. Dissolution rates of a new formulation were compared with those of commercially available DDB preparations using one and eight dose units. Dissolution rates after 2 hr of DDB tablets (DDB 25 mg), hard capsules (DDB 7.5 mg) and soft capsules (DDB 7.5 mg) on market and new formulation (DDB 7.5 mg) were 6.3, 15.0, 84.5 and 98.0%, respectively. Higher doses (8 units) resulted in a supersaturation within one hr of dissolution, and dissolved amounts were reduced markedly. Due to the saturation and precipitation, a directly proportional dose-dissolution relationship was not observed. The addition of copolyvidone and/or glycyrrhizic acid ammonium salt to DDB solution in polyethylene glycol 300 and 400 inhibited the formation of precipitates during dissolution and markedly enhanced the rabbit duodenal permeation of DDB. From the site-specific gastrointestinal permeation studies, it was found that permeation rates of DDB after mixing of non-aqueous DDB solutions with aqueous buffered solutions were faster in the order of $rectal;<;colonic;{ isingdotseq};ileal;{ isingdotseq};duodenal;<;jejunal;<;gastric$.