-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WEHwnNpA10g4Kld+MxdLhelpFvUIVEdR/+aXqbSU3CPFN09cBmoMn5n1qiNn6qBY
 I0Hhb8mYiQ/k5UzKuBbJag==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-09-027678.txt : 20090522
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-09-027678.hdr.sgml : 20090522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090519205349
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-09-027678
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090515
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090519
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090519

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Novinski Michael V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001396121

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17758
		FILM NUMBER:		09840893

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EMISPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		765 OLD SAW MILL RIVER ROAD
		CITY:			TARRYTOWN
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10591

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMISPHERE TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000805326
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				133306985
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		240 CEDAR KNOLLS RD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			CEDAR KNOLLS
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07927
		BUSINESS PHONE:		973-532-8000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		240 CEDAR KNOLLS RD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			CEDAR KNOLLS
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07927

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CLINICAL TECHNOLOGIES ASSOCIATES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920128
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c85890_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000805326</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMISPHERE TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EMIS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001396121</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Novinski Michael V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>240 CEDAR KNOLLS RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CEDAR KNOLLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07927</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.93</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-05-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-05-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option subject to this grant vest according to the following schedule: 100,000 on May 15, 2009, 100,000 on December 31, 2009, 100,000 on December 31, 2010</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Novinski Michael V</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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