Nature of Operations and Liquidity	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Nature of Operations and Liquidity [Abstract]
Nature of Operations and Liquidity	1. Nature of Operations and Liquidity Nature of Operations. Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (“Emisphere,” “the Company,” “our,” “us,” or “we”) is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on a unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules or nutritional supplements using its Eligen^® Technology. These molecules are currently available or are under development. Our core business strategy is to develop oral forms of drugs or nutrients that are not currently available or have poor bioavailability in oral form, by applying the Eligen ^® Technology to those drugs or nutrients. Our development efforts are conducted internally or in collaboration with corporate development partners. Typically, the drugs that we target are at an advanced stage of development, or have already received regulatory approval, and are currently available on the market. Liquidity. As of September 30, 2012, we had approximately $0.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, approximately $35.5 million in working capital deficiency, a stockholders’ deficit of approximately $66.8 million and an accumulated deficit of approximately $468.4 million. Our operating loss for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 was approximately $1.5 million and $4.7 million, respectively. As of September 27, 2012, the Company is in default under the terms of the MHR Convertible Notes (described in Note 9 to these Financial Statements) issued to MHR Fund Management LLC (together with its affiliates, “MHR”). The default is the result of the Company’s failure to pay MHR approximately $30.5 million in principal and interest due and payable on September 26, 2012 under the terms of the MHR Convertible Notes. Pursuant to that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2005, between the Company and MHR (as amended to date, the “Security Agreement”), the MHR Convertible Notes are secured by a first priority lien in favor of MHR on substantially all of our assets. On October 4, 2012, the Company received notice from MHR that, as a result of the payment default described above, the default interest rate of 13% per annum will apply with respect to the MHR Convertible Notes, effective as of September 27, 2012. The Company continues to be in default under the terms of the MHR Convertible Notes and, as a result of such default, MHR has the ability at any time to foreclose on substantially all of the Company’s assets under the terms of the Security Agreement. To date, MHR has not demanded payment under the MHR Convertible Notes or exercised its rights under the Security Agreement as a result of the default, and has indicated that it is prepared to continue discussions with the Company regarding proposals relating to the default while reserving all of its rights under the terms of the MHR Convertible Notes and Security Agreement. There can be no assurances as to the outcome of such discussions. As of September 27, 2012, the Company is also in default under the terms of certain non-interest bearing promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $600,000 issued to MHR on June 8, 2010 (the “2010 MHR Notes”). The 2010 MHR Notes were originally due and payable on June 8, 2012, but this maturity date was extended to September 26, 2012 by agreement with MHR. The default is the result of the Company’s failure to pay to MHR $600,000 in principal due and payable on September 26, 2012 under the terms of the 2010 MHR Notes. As with the MHR Convertible Notes discussed above, MHR has not demanded payment under the 2010 MHR Notes, and has indicated to the Company that it is prepared to continue discussions with the Company regarding proposals relating to the 2010 MHR Notes and the Company’s default thereunder while reserving all of its rights under the 2010 MHR Notes. There can be no assurances as to the outcome of such discussions. As more specifically described in Note 9 to these Financial Statements, on October 17, 2012, the Company issued a promissory note (the “Bridge Note”) to MHR Institutional Partners IIA LP, MHR Institutional Partners II LP, MHR Capital Partners Master Account LP, and MHR Capital Partners (100) LP (collectively, the “Bridge Lender”) in the principal amount of $1,400,000 to be advanced by the Bridge Lender to the Company pursuant to the terms thereof (the “Bridge Loan”). That amount is sufficient to support operations through approximately December 15, 2012. The Bridge Note is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of our assets, is payable on demand no earlier than January 17, 2013, and may be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain events described therein. We have limited capital resources and operations to date have been funded with the proceeds from collaborative research agreements, public and private equity and debt financings and income earned on investments. We anticipate that we will continue to generate significant losses from operations for the foreseeable future, and that our business will require substantial additional investment that we have not yet secured. Further, we do not have sufficient resources to develop fully any new products or technologies unless we are able to raise substantial additional financing on acceptable terms or secure funds from new or existing partners. We cannot assure that financing will be available on favorable terms or at all. Additionally, these conditions may increase the cost to raise capital. If additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of such securities would result in dilution to our existing stockholders. Our failure to raise capital when needed would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and could force us to reduce or cease our operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Consequently, the audit reports prepared by our independent registered public accounting firm relating to our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 include an explanatory paragraph expressing the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. If the Company fails to raise additional capital or obtain substantial cash inflows from existing or new partners prior to December 15, 2012, or if MHR demands payment under the terms of the MHR Convertible Notes or the 2010 MHR Notes, or exercises its rights under the Security Agreement, the Company could be forced to cease operations. The Company is pursuing several courses of action to address its deficiency in capital resources including discussions with MHR, commercialization of B12, leveraging existing partnerships, and capital markets financings.

Nature of Operations and Liquidity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Nature of Operations and Liquidity [Abstract]

1. Nature of Operations and Liquidity

Nature of Operations. Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (“Emisphere,” “the Company,” “our,” “us,” or “we”) is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on a unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules or nutritional supplements using its Eligen^® Technology. These molecules are currently available or are under development.

Our core business strategy is to develop oral forms of drugs or nutrients that are not currently available or have poor bioavailability in oral form, by applying the Eligen ^® Technology to those drugs or nutrients. Our development efforts are conducted internally or in collaboration with corporate development partners. Typically, the drugs that we target are at an advanced stage of development, or have already received regulatory approval, and are currently available on the market.

Liquidity. As of September 30, 2012, we had approximately $0.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, approximately $35.5 million in working capital deficiency, a stockholders’ deficit of approximately $66.8 million and an accumulated deficit of approximately $468.4 million. Our operating loss for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012 was approximately $1.5 million and $4.7 million, respectively.

As of September 27, 2012, the Company is in default under the terms of the MHR Convertible Notes (described in Note 9 to these Financial Statements) issued to MHR Fund Management LLC (together with its affiliates, “MHR”). The default is the result of the Company’s failure to pay MHR approximately $30.5 million in principal and interest due and payable on September 26, 2012 under the terms of the MHR Convertible Notes. Pursuant to that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2005, between the Company and MHR (as amended to date, the “Security Agreement”), the MHR Convertible Notes are secured by a first priority lien in favor of MHR on substantially all of our assets. On October 4, 2012, the Company received notice from MHR that, as a result of the payment default described above, the default interest rate of 13% per annum will apply with respect to the MHR Convertible Notes, effective as of September 27, 2012.

The Company continues to be in default under the terms of the MHR Convertible Notes and, as a result of such default, MHR has the ability at any time to foreclose on substantially all of the Company’s assets under the terms of the Security Agreement. To date, MHR has not demanded payment under the MHR Convertible Notes or exercised its rights under the Security Agreement as a result of the default, and has indicated that it is prepared to continue discussions with the Company regarding proposals relating to the default while reserving all of its rights under the terms of the MHR Convertible Notes and Security Agreement. There can be no assurances as to the outcome of such discussions.

As of September 27, 2012, the Company is also in default under the terms of certain non-interest bearing promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $600,000 issued to MHR on June 8, 2010 (the “2010 MHR Notes”). The 2010 MHR Notes were originally due and payable on June 8, 2012, but this maturity date was extended to September 26, 2012 by agreement with MHR. The default is the result of the Company’s failure to pay to MHR $600,000 in principal due and payable on September 26, 2012 under the terms of the 2010 MHR Notes. As with the MHR Convertible Notes discussed above, MHR has not demanded payment under the 2010 MHR Notes, and has indicated to the Company that it is prepared to continue discussions with the Company regarding proposals relating to the 2010 MHR Notes and the Company’s default thereunder while reserving all of its rights under the 2010 MHR Notes. There can be no assurances as to the outcome of such discussions.

As more specifically described in Note 9 to these Financial Statements, on October 17, 2012, the Company issued a promissory note (the “Bridge Note”) to MHR Institutional Partners IIA LP, MHR Institutional Partners II LP, MHR Capital Partners Master Account LP, and MHR Capital Partners (100) LP (collectively, the “Bridge Lender”) in the principal amount of $1,400,000 to be advanced by the Bridge Lender to the Company pursuant to the terms thereof (the “Bridge Loan”). That amount is sufficient to support operations through approximately December 15, 2012. The Bridge Note is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of our assets, is payable on demand no earlier than January 17, 2013, and may be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain events described therein.

We have limited capital resources and operations to date have been funded with the proceeds from collaborative research agreements, public and private equity and debt financings and income earned on investments. We anticipate that we will continue to generate significant losses from operations for the foreseeable future, and that our business will require substantial additional investment that we have not yet secured. Further, we do not have sufficient resources to develop fully any new products or technologies unless we are able to raise substantial additional financing on acceptable terms or secure funds from new or existing partners. We cannot assure that financing will be available on favorable terms or at all. Additionally, these conditions may increase the cost to raise capital. If additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of such securities would result in dilution to our existing stockholders. Our failure to raise capital when needed would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and could force us to reduce or cease our operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Consequently, the audit reports prepared by our independent registered public accounting firm relating to our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 include an explanatory paragraph expressing the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

If the Company fails to raise additional capital or obtain substantial cash inflows from existing or new partners prior to December 15, 2012, or if MHR demands payment under the terms of the MHR Convertible Notes or the 2010 MHR Notes, or exercises its rights under the Security Agreement, the Company could be forced to cease operations. The Company is pursuing several courses of action to address its deficiency in capital resources including discussions with MHR, commercialization of B12, leveraging existing partnerships, and capital markets financings.