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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): November 27, 2009

Emisphere Technologies, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware	000-17758	13-3306985

(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)


240 Cedar Knolls Road, Suite 200, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey		07927

(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 973-532-8000

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On November 30, 2009, Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that on November 27, 2009, Novartis Pharma AG (“Novartis”) agreed to extend the maturity date of Emisphere’s Convertible Promissory Note (the “Note”) to February 26, 2010. The $10 million original principal amount Note, plus interest accrued to date, was originally issued to Novartis on December 1, 2004, in connection with the Research Collaboration and Option License Agreement between the parties of that date and was originally due on December 1, 2009.

The text of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.


Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release of Emisphere Technologies, Inc. dated November 30, 2009

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


	Emisphere Technologies, Inc.
November 30, 2009	By:	/s/ Michael R. Garone
		Name:	Michael R. Garone
		Title:	Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release of Emisphere Technologies, Inc. dated November 30, 2009

Exhibit 99.1

Emisphere Technologies Announces Extension of Maturity Date for Novartis Convertible Promissory Note

CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., Nov 30, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB: EMIS), a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on a unique and improved delivery of pharmaceutical compounds and nutritional supplements using its Eligen^(R) Technology, today announced that Novartis Pharma AG has agreed to extend the maturity date of Emisphere’s Convertible Promissory Note (the “Note”) to February 26, 2010. The $10 million original principal amount Note, plus interest accrued to date, was originally issued to Novartis on December 1, 2004 in connection with the Research Collaboration and Option License Agreement between the parties of that date and was originally due on December 1, 2009.

About Emisphere Technologies, Inc.

Emisphere is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on a unique and improved delivery of pharmaceutical compounds and nutritional supplements using its Eligen^(R) Technology. These molecules and compounds could be currently available or in development. Such molecules are usually delivered by injection; in many cases, their benefits are limited due to poor bioavailability, slow on-set of action or variable absorption. The Eligen^(R) Technology can be applied to the oral route of administration as well other delivery pathways, such as buccal, rectal, inhalation, intra-vaginal or transdermal. The company’s website is: www.emisphere.com.

Safe Harbor Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements

The statements in this release and oral statements made by representatives of Emisphere relating to matters that are not historical facts (including without limitation those regarding the timing or potential outcomes of research collaborations or clinical trials, any market that might develop for any of Emisphere’s product candidates and the sufficiency of Emisphere’s cash and other capital resources) are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the likelihood that future research will prove successful, the likelihood that any product in the research pipeline will receive regulatory approval in the United States or abroad, the ability of Emisphere and/or its partners to develop, manufacture and commercialize products using Emisphere’s drug delivery technology, Emisphere’s ability to fund such efforts with or without partners, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Emisphere’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Emisphere’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (file no. 000-17758) filed on March 16, 2009 and as amended on Form 10-K/A as filed on April 30, 2009, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 as filed on November 9, 2009.

SOURCE: Emisphere Technologies, Inc.

For Media Relations:
West Mill Communications
James Modica, 908-872-4919
jimwmm@aol.com
or
Emisphere Technologies
Daria Palestina, 973-532-8002
dpalestina@emisphere.com
or
For Investor Relations:
Rx Communications Group
Paula Schwartz, 917-322-2216
pschwartz@rxir.com
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