With AstraZeneca's ($AZN) CFO telling investors that Pfizer's ($PFE) colossal takeover bid failed purely because it was too cheap, creative dealmakers are looking at new ways to get the two parties shaking hands. Contingent value rights, or CVRs, are tradable assets that pay out depending on milestones. AstraZeneca's case against Pfizer's $100 billion-plus offer was that it undervalued the company's promising pipeline therapies. So why not strike up a deal with an upfront price amenable to Pfizer but with CVRs that would pay out additional millions if AstraZeneca's optimism proves true? Reuters takes a detailed look at the possibility, pointing out that CVRs helped resolve a similar debate between Sanofi ($SNY) and Genzyme over the value of Lemtrada. But, as some doubtful bankers told the news service, CVRs are ideal for assets with near-term catalysts, not far-off prospects like AstraZeneca's immunotherapy candidates. More