Solid dispersions were prepared to increase the dissolution rate of biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) using water-soluble carriers such as povidone, copolyvidone, $2-hydroxypropyl-{eta}-cyclodextrin (HPCD)$, sodium salicylate or sodium benzoate by solvent evaporation method. Solid dispersions were characterized by infrared spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffractometry, dissolution and permeation studies. DDB tablets (7.5 mg) were prepared by compressing the powder mixtures composed of solid dispersions, lactose, com starch, crospovidone and magnesium stearate using a single-punch press. DDB capsules (7.5 mg) were also prepared by filling the mixtures in empty hard gelatin capsules (size No.1). From the DSC and powder x-ray diffractometric studies, it was found that DDB was amorphous in the HPCD or copolyvidone solid dispersions. Dissolution rates after 10 min of DDB alone and solid dispersions (1 : 10) in sodium benzoate, sodium salicylate and copolyvidone were 11.8, 23.5, 22.8 and 82.5%, respectively. Dissolution rates of DDB after 30 min from 1 : 10 and 1 : 20 copolyvidone solid dispersions were 80.5 and 95.0%, respectively. For the DDB tablets prepared using solid dispersions (1 : 20), the initial dissolution rate was dependent on carrier material, and was ranked in order, $Kollidon;30;{ll}$ copolyvidone < HPCD. For the HPCD solid dispersion tablets, dissolution rate reached 97.4% after 15 min, but thereafter slowly decreased to 80.7% after 2 hr due to the precipitation of DDB. However, in the case of copolyvidone solid dispersion tablets, dissolution increased linearly and reached 93.4% after 2 hr. Reducing the volume of test medium from 900 to 300 ml markedly decreased the dissolution rate of the tablets containing 1 : 20 HPCD solid dispersions and 1 : 10 copolyvidone solid dispersion. For 1 : 20 copolyvidone solid dispersion tablets, there was no significant change in dissolution rate up to 1 hr with different volumes of test medium. Preparation of the copolyvidone solid dispersion (1 : 20) in capsules markedly delayed the dissolution (31.2 % after 2hr) due to the limited diffusion within capsules. The permeation rate $(13.4;g/cm^2;after;8;hr)$ of DDB through rabbit duodenal mucosa from copolyvidone solid dispersion (1 : 10) was markedly enhanced, when compared with drug alone or physical mixtures. From overall findings, DDB formulations containing copolyvidone solid dispersions (1 : 20) could be used to remarkably improve the dissolution rate in dosage form of powders and tablets.